“The Kaiser and Belgium,” Stephen Phillips

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The Kaiser and Belgium

He said: “Thou petty people, let me pass.

What canst thou do but bow to me and kneel?”

But sudden a dry land caught fire like grass,

And answer hurtled but from shell and steel.

He looked for silence, but a thunder came

Upon him, from Liège a leaden hail.

All Belgium flew up at his throat in flame

Till at her gates amazed his legions quail.

Take heed, for now on haunted ground they tread;

There bowed a mightier war lord to his fall:

Fear! lest that very green grass again...