End of Empires

End of Empires

38



On February 2, 1901,
Queen Victoria was laid to rest.
Largest gathering
Of European royalty ever assembled
Attended the funeral.

This was the height
Of the British Empire.

Few would have thought
In a few short years
World War 1 would begin.

And then World War Two
The Cold War
Followed by the gradual
End of the British Empire.

The sun did set
On the British Empire

But in 1901
It seemed like
The British Empire
Would last forever.

Empires rise and fall
Sometimes one sees the decline.
Other times it comes as surprise.
In hindsight almost inevitable.

What will be the end
Of the American Empire?
Will America break apart
Into ten or 15 new nations?

If there is a civil war
It will not end up
As proponents think.


That is the nature
Of civil war
And war in general.

it never ends as planned.

“ War, Good God all, what is it good for?
War has only one friend, the undertaker.”



NEW (birthday week) PROMPT:
On February 2 (2/2) in 1901, the state funeral of Queen Victoria of Great Britain took place and was one of the largest gatherings of European royalty in history. Write a poem or story about this event. Use HISTORY as one of your genres.

(War) h'uh
Yeah!
(What is it good for?)
Absolutely (nothin) uh-huh, uh-huh
(War) h'uh
Yeah!
(What is it good for?)
Absolutely (nothin')
Say it again, y'all

(War) h'uh (h'uh) look out!
(What is it good for?)
Absolutely (nothin')

Listen to me

Ooh war, I despise
'Cause it means destruction of innocent lives
War means tears, to thousands of mother's eyes
When their sons go off to fight and lose their lives
I said, war (h'uh)
Good God, y'all!
(What is it good for?)

Absolutely (nothin') 'gin
Say it, again

(War) whoa (h'uh) whoa-whoa, Lord

(What is it good for?)
Absolutely (nothin')
Listen to me!

(War)
It ain't nothin' but a heartbreaker!
(War)
Friend only to the undertaker

Ooh, war
Is an enemy to all mankind
The thought of war blows my mind
War has caused unrest

Within the younger generation
Induction, then destruction
Who wants to die?
Ooh war, Good God (h'uh) y'all!

(What is it good for?)
Absolutely (nothin')

Say it, say it, say it
(War)
Woah-h'uh (h'uh) yeah uh
(What is it good for?)

(Absolutely) nothin'
Listen to me

(War)
It ain't nothin' but a heartbreaker
(War)
It's got one thing and that's the undertaker

Ooh, war
Has shattered many a-young man's dreams
Made him disabled, bitter, and mean
And life is much too short and precious
To spend fighting wars each day
War can't give life
It can only take it away
Oh, war!
(H'uh) Good God, y'all
(What is it good for?)
Absolutely (nothin')

Say it, again
(War)
Whoa (h'uh) whoa-whoa, Lord
(What is it good for?)
A-absolutely (nothin')
Listen to me!
(War)
It ain't nothin' but a heartbreaker
(War)
Friend only to the undertaker
Woo!

Peace, love and understanding tell me
Is there no place for anything else?
They say we must fight
To keep our freedom
But Lord, knows there's got to be
A better way
Oooh

(War)
God, y'all! (uh)
(What is it good for?)
You tell 'em! (h'uh)
Say it, say it, say it
(War)
Good God (h'uh) now, h'uh
(What is it good for?)
Stand up and shout it
(Nothin'!)


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