What Shall They Say In My Demise? Poem by Hiram Sims

What Shall they say in demise?
Shall trumpet roar, and drummers blare
the country’s pain upon their snare?
Shall roses pour into the wind
to mark my legendary end?
Shall mourners line the city streets
to watch my coffin’s dark retreat?
When banners fill these western skies
what shall they say in my demise?

How shall they weep upon my fall?
Will mothers scream and daughters wale?
Will Widows moan beneath their veil?
Will Fathers curse and brothers sob
amidst the sullen, angry mob?
Will preachers pray to understand
the brittle, fragile life of man?
Shall tears consume a million eyes?
What shall they say in my demise?

What utterance will grace their lips?
Shall friends recant my noble deeds
while Catholics rub their rosary beads?
Will politicians all condone
The grace I wielded from my throne?
Shall glory and brilliance exclaim
from every mouth that speaks my name?
“Another Vain King shuts his eyes”
Are words they’ll spew in my demise!