One of my favorites...03:33 Jul 30 2006
Times Read: 579
Empire
Trumpets triumph in red disaster,
White skulls litter the broken sod,
And we who ride for the one Black Master
Howl at the iron gates of God.
Black shapes ride to a reddened revel,
Crimson queens with their hearts of ice
We have plunged our hands in the wind of the Devil,
Leave the saints to their Paradise.
Beacons break and the singers falter,
Lights go out in the rushing gloom,
Slay the priest on the blackened altar,
Rip the babe from the woman’s womb!
The black blade drinks and the black heart gladdens;
Summon our kindred up from Hell!
Let me mingle the wine that maddens,
With the burning kisses of Jezebel.
Who would trade for a bloodless Heaven,
One fierce harlot’s hot caress?
Virtue is one but the Sins be seven-
And sin is the only goodliness.
Black be the night that locks around them,
They who chant of the Good and Light,
Black be the pinions that shall confound them,
Breaking their brains with deadly fright.
Praised be the Prince that reigns forever,
Throned in the shadows Dark and Grim,
Where Cypress moans by the midnight river,
Lift your goblets and drink to him!
Virgins wail and a babe is whining,
Nailed like a fly on a gory lance;
White on the skulls the stars are shining,
Over them sweeps our demon’s dance.
Heritage of the world is ours,
Gods of all Evil grant us rule-
See where they hang from flaming towers,
Woman and prelate, priest and fool.
Trumpets bray and the stars are riven!
Shatter the altar, blot the light!
Of all the world from the Hells to Heaven,
We are the kings of the world tonight!
Robert E. Howard
(Creator of Conan)
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