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.