 | Imaginary Sonnets |  |
101
NAPOLEON TO A ST. HELENA LEAF.
(1820.)
I sit and hold my empire in my hand:
Thou, shrivelled leaf, thou, thing ephemeral,
Flecked as with faded bloodstains, thou art all
The length, the breadth, the girth of my command.
Thou, shrivelled leaf, thou, thing ephemeral,
Flecked as with faded bloodstains, thou art all
The length, the breadth, the girth of my command.
I see between thy veinings every land,
From Vistula to Tagus, in my thrall:
Now crumble up within my hand, and fall
Into black dust, thou sum of all I planned.
From Vistula to Tagus, in my thrall:
Now crumble up within my hand, and fall
Into black dust, thou sum of all I planned.
Is that the moaning of a tropic storm?
Its roar will soothe the gnawing in my side.
The thunder growls like cannon. Legions form
Its roar will soothe the gnawing in my side.
The thunder growls like cannon. Legions form
Among the shifting clouds, and multiplied
Battalions rush to conquest, swarm on swarm.
Gnaw, vulture, gnaw: the Titan's firmly tied.
Battalions rush to conquest, swarm on swarm.
Gnaw, vulture, gnaw: the Titan's firmly tied.
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