In a Desert Place

The wind blows all things away, he said

It blew my ships to land and glory

It cast us on shores of glass

It drove my enemies to death and sickness

Their power was broken at last

The wind blows all things away

Our kings, they reigned with majesty

More proud and cold than forgiving

I dined on honeyed peacock’s tongues

And swore that this was living!

A military man, with sword and pike

I struck tall warriors down

Their weeping women I led as slaves

In abasement before the Crown

But then the wind, it turned on us

My strength began to fail

I saw our harbors run blood-red

Under the enemy’s wind-blown sail

The wind blows all things away, he said

My father, dark and work-worn

It raises and levels the strong to weak

And leaves no lovers to mourn

So my lord, he was executed!

Our navy defeated at sea

Many men fought in fruitless battles

All died on a sword, but me

And the kings’ palace, once glorious with gold

The pride of all in the land

Stands nothing but an empty ruin, now

Of wind-silence, and of sand