A POET'S PREDICTION OF THE FALL OF KAISERISM

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8178, 3 May 1919, Page 2 (Supplement)

A POET'S PREDICTION OF THE FALL OF KAISERISM

Hie following poem, which a subscriber finds reprinted in the Toronto “Mail and Empire,” was written by the well-known Scottish poet Charles Mackay in 1871, at the time when William I. was proclaimed German Emperor. The fulfilment ol’ its prophecy has been long delayed, but is now strikingly complete :■ — THE KAISER’S CROWN. (Versailles, 18th January, 1871.) The wind on the Thames blew icy breath. The wind on the Seine blew fiery death, The snow lay thick on tower and tree, The streams ran black through wold and lea; Af I sat alone in London town And dreamed a dream of the Kaiser’s crown. Holy \yiliiam, that conqueror dread, Placed it himself on his hoary head, And sat on his throne with his nobles about, And his captains raising the wild warshout : And asked himself, ’twixt a smile and a sigh, “Was ever a Kaiser so great as I?” From every jewel, from every jem, In that Imperial diadem There came a voice and a whisper clear— I heard it ,and I still can hear— Which said, “0 Kaiser, great and strong, God’s sword is double-edged and long!” “Ay,” said the emeralds, flashing green—“'The fruit shall be what the seed has been — His realm shall reap what his hosts have sown. Debt and misery, tear and groan, Paiig and sob, and grief and shame, And rapine and consuming flame!” “ Ay,” said the rubies, glc-wing red—• “ Thero comes new life from the lifeblood shod f And though the Gotli o’erride the Gaul, Eternal justice rides o’er all! Might may be Right for its own short day, But Right is Might forever and aye!” “Av,” said the diamonds, tongned with fire; “ Grief tracks the pathways of desire, Our Kaiser, oil whose head we glow, Takes little heed of his people’s woe, Or the deep, deep thoughts in the people’s brain That burn and throb like healing pain. “Thinks not that Germany, joyous now, Cares naught for the crown upon his Ibrow, But much for the Freedom —wooed, not won— That must bo hers ere all is done, — That gleams, and floats, and shines afar, A glorious and approaching star!” “Ay,” said they all, with one accord, “Heis the Kaiser, King and Lord; But kings are small .the people great; And Freedom corneth. sure, though late— A stronger than he shall cast him down! ” This was my dream of the Kaiser’s crowii