Strange Land Poem by Thomas Stearn

On what lands can man aspire?
On what seas does he desire?
Of fruitful treasures he will acquire,
From earth and rock for his empire.

What goals will the king unveil?
For man and child of borrodale,
Of grain on ships he let set sail
In greed of his own betrayal.

By what means the people crave?
Of bread and fruit our neighbour gave,
How can the King make of us slaves?
For his own goal and glory save.

By what means must we decide?
By what laws must we abide?
That strain and sap, the people tied,
And spat on now, forever lied.

In what town hath spirit bereft?
Of death and violence and of theft,
By desperate men that wield deft
And rob child unto hath none left.

Through broken laws the solders came
Of loyalty that they seek reclaim,
And whipped the people with their canes,
Of dying souls in bleeding chains.

Pray now, haste! Our allies' come
In help and need the people's son,
The true heir silent unto done
On land and sea he will be won.

For now the time has come to fight,
To give the rotten king a fright
And thrust him out of kingdom sight,
Forever now, by day and night.