A King in Exile

Victor James Daley 1858 – 1905



O THE Queen may keep her golden
   Crown and sceptre of command!
I would give them both twice over
   To be King of Babyland.
Sure, it is a wondrous country
   Where the beanstalks grow apace,
And so very near the moon is
   You could almost stroke her face.

And the dwellers in that country
   Hold in such esteem their King,
They believe that if he chooses
   He can do—just anything!

And, although his regal stature
   May be only four-feet-ten,
Think him tallest, strongest, bravest,
   Noblest, wisest, best of men.

Ah, how fondly I remember
   The good time serene and fair,
In the bygone years when I, too,
   Was a reigning monarch there!

But my subjects they discrowned me
   When they’d older, colder, grown;
And they took away my sceptre,
   And upset my royal throne.

Yet, although a King in Exile,
   Without subjects to command,
I am glad at heart to think I
   Once was King of Babyland.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

47 sec read
30

Quick analysis:

Scheme XABACDXD CEXE BFXF BGXG CHBH XAXA
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 893
Words 159
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 8, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

Victor James Daley

Victor James William Patrick Daley was an Australian poet. more…

All Victor James Daley poems | Victor James Daley Books

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