Poetry Archives

They told to Marie Antoinette:
      “The beggers at your gate
Have eyes too sad for tears to wet,
      And for your pity wait.”
But Marie only laughed and said:
      “My heart they will not ache:
If people starve for want of bread
                  Let them eat cake.”
                  
The Court re-echoed her bon mot;
      It rang around the land,
Till masses wakened from their woe
      With scyth and pick in hand.
It took a careless, callous phrase
      To rouse the folk forlorn:
A million roared the Marseillaise:
                  Freedom was born.

And so to Marie Antoinette
      Let’s pay a tribute due;
Humanity owes her a debt,
      (Ironical, it’s true).
She sparked world revolution red,
      And as with glee they bore
Upon a pike her lovely head
                 —Her curls dripped gore.