The Coronation of the Emperor

This one is to celebrate the 204th anniversary of the coronation of Napoleon I of France.

The Coronation of the Emperor

The crown placed on his head

In an obscene mockery of the kings of old

Whose queens wanted to give the peasants cake instead of bread

All swept away into the dust of history.

All the hopes the Republic had brought 

The hopes of democracy, the hopes of the people

Were crushed under that crown

After it touched the head of that great general

From Corsica he came, closer to Italy than France

Joined the army

Toulon, North Italy, all fell before him

Lightning war, mass campaigns

Bonaparte reigns supreme

But he could not cross the water

He could not fight the lion

He went to Italy, he went to Egypt

But never could the lion be defeated

Beating senselessly at the wall of the sea

He could see across it

He could see the golden fields of England

But never could he reach it

He put a crown upon his head

In front of the Pope even

Absolute Power

The Death of the Republic

The French Republic passed into the depths of history

We look upon it today as a relic

Either as a sacred thing cruelly destroyed by his boot

Or as a roadblock best done away with

Oh Bonaparte

Oh Emperor Napoleon

Europa bows to you

But do not become drawn into the Russian snows

Enjoy your celebration today

For in one decade your enemies will trod the soil of France

And you shall pay for what you have done. 

Author's Note

I know that Marie Antoinette never really uttered the cake words attributed for her, but it fit, so sue me XD

Reviews

[Light]

there is a saying about history that is absolutely true: "when the legend becomes fact, print the legend." i have absolutely no qualms with the "let them eat cake!" i used to be a huge history buff and Napoleon was one of the most magnificent men who ever lived! i hear him referred to as hero and villain almost equally and this poem seems to embody that feeling as it has such pomp and yet despair. we know how the story ends; with Napoleon dead.

-light-