Editor’s Note: This poem was taken from The White Cockade, a collection of poetry by Charles A. Coulombe available from Tumblar House Publishing.
***
All Kings and all pretenders,
wherever you may be,
the land itself remembers
though we are far from thee.
–
You Counts and Knights and Barons
who served your God and King,
fear not the modern charons
who scorn their honor, sing
–
Of modern age’s wonders
joys our science brought,
care not for bloody blunders
and evil that they wrought
–
All through the world’s vast waters
the Monarchs sent their men
who ended Heathen slaughters
made salvation within ken
–
Of savage tribes and races.
To our South-west the King of Spain
sent Friars from their places
who worked and died in pain.
–
His Majesty of France indeed
the rivers took in fief,
Blackrobe, trapper, with great speed
converted brave and Chief.
–
Even Britain’s Sovereign cold
displayed his Royal worth,
dispatched minions sure and bold
to found our land of birth.
–
He who reigned in Sweden’s north
sent all that he could spare,
brave Swedes for him sallied forth
and settled Delaware.
–
But facing revolution’s frown,
the Monarch’s call so loud,
for brave swords to help the crown
against the maddening crowd.
–
The Jacobites for Royal James
and Bonnie Charles as well,
the Carlists fought with Spanish names
while Chouans tasted Hell.
–
The brave emerged from old Vendee
and died at Quiberon
or fought with great old Duc Condé
or fell at bold Toulon.
–
And Hofer up in High Tyrol
fought his Emperor’s foe
feared not to pay the awful toll
before they laid him low.
–
In Russia’s far off blinding snows
the Whites fought for their Tsar,
and though the Country’s lost in woe,
their glory none can mar.
–
Ethiopia, Laos, Iran
all had their Paladins
Vietnam, Afghanistan,
remind us of our sins.
–
I beg the King who reigns above
that to me may be shown
how to fight with savage love
for altar, and for throne.