The Folly of Greed: Part 2
The Macedonian heir to Philip’s crown Embarked to conquer and achieve renown
Cities, like skittles, fell before his advance Alexander the Great had the world entranced
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But greed soon followed in victory’s wake
Held him gripped in a thirst he could not slake Then, at last reaching the then known world’s gate He wept when he found naught to liberate
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But Heaven’s malice grants ambition’s prayers
And greed gushes eternal for one who dares
And, as if in answer to deep despair,
On Tigris’ banks he discovered India
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But even before the mighty prize could loom
E’en ere his last great surging hopes could bloom
All that flesh is heir to began to zoom
Malarial flue caused his untimely doom
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The man to whom the world was not enough
Was felled not by the sword but Fate’s trough Epitaphed on his tomb in History’s dome
Is how mosquito sent him coffined home *****************
The Corsican rustic took France by storm
When divine right was no longer the norm; Whilst the tumbrel carted the Bourbon’s head He wowed Paris and she took him to bed
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What sudden rise for this humble peasant
Le petit Caporal of dubious descent
Clearing chaos ‘with a whiff of grapeshot’ Grasped all power and become the despot
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Freedom’s first breaths were all the French could grasp; He did what they thought would never come to pass Choking at birth the multitude’s revolt
He kept the Revolution’s intent bolt
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Grabbing all power unto himself lone
Reversed the cycle and restored the throne:
Gave France new life and a new code of laws
Then ravaged all Europe in endless wars
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But greed and ambition no boundaries know
The more one drinks, the more one thirsts for more Kingly baubles couldn’t his vanity slake
The Hapsburg Empire he designed to take
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But ere one dares on Marie’s hand call
One’s station must meet royal protocol;
Of all crowns only one would set him ‘part
That of Emperor Bonaparte
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Emperor of France he anointed himself Snubbed the Pope and placed the crown on his self Then turned around crowned Josephine Empress
All because he couldn’t in bed her impress
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One small prick was the cause of Europe’s woe Tragedy writ large on that flaccid toe
With Joise his limp became his worst foe
His manhood climaxed only on battle shore
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But how so much he sipped victory’s cup
The little member refused to swell up
Absolute power wooed without relent Rendered the petite Emperor impotent
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Then the tide turned; the Napoleonic star.
The guiding light which propelled him thus far Began to fade: and, in its deathly throes,
Hurled Nemesis to flay grandiose hopes
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No more for him Triumph’s sweet delight
On Russian plains his Fortunes took flight
The winter chill froze his men in their tracks
The Gods ensured there were no more come backs ***
The blue eyed innocent Power deflowered
The conquering hero Greed devoured:
Sent to an Elbian exile found out
Cost of fickle Fortune and Love devout
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Yet deep rooted hunger spurred him headlong
To re- enact the terror, the bloodlet prolong; Fleeing exile, the ogre at Paris’ gate
Seemed, once more, Demi-god of Europe’s fate