I'D read the Kaiser's note, A message representative; I went to bed unquieted And fuming and fermentative. Of submarine and boat, Of wars in endless number I dreamed until, while far from ill, I simply could not slumber. Of wars, I say, I dreamed, Of contests gladiatorial. When through the gray shone out the day— The Day they call Memorial. And still I lay and schemed, Evolving plans piratic A hundred million men to kill In diction diplomatic. "Alas!" I thought, "the end Is come of all humanity! The weeping earth abandons mirth For frenzy and insanity. Ah, whither does it tend? ..." —And then, in martial manner, A German and adjacent band Played "The Star Spangled Banner." O little German band, Though partisan my attitude, When all seemed vile you made me smile— Accept my grinning gratitude. You made me understand, Where failed a thousand sermons, That all has not yet gone to pot. .... I thank you, band of Germans. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...OBERMANN ONCE MORE by MATTHEW ARNOLD ESCAPE AT BEDTIME by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON TO HARTLEY COLERIDGE; SIX YEARS OLD by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH SHEMA-YISRAEL-ADONAI-ELOHENU ADONAI-ECHOD by NATHAN BERNSTEIN THE PHILANDERER by BERTON BRALEY THE HIGHLAND LASSIE by ROBERT BURNS |