Explore "Remarks about Kings (the Trial as by Fire)" by Henry Van Dyke on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
_God said, "I am tired of kings._" -- EMERSON.
God said, "I am tired of kings," -- / But that was a long time ago! / And meantime man said, "No, / I like their looks in their robes and rings. " / So he crowned a few more, / And they went on playing the game as before / Fighting and spoiling things.
Man said, "I am tired of kings! / Sons of the robber-chiefs of yore, / They make me pay for their lust and their war; / I am the puppet, they pull the strings; / The blood of my heart is the wine they drink. / I will govern myself for while I think, / And see what that brings!"
Then God, who made the first remark, / Smiled in the dark.