Byzantium Poem by Jan Oskar Hansen

Byzantium
It is August its heat taste of dust and desperation
The despot feels that soon time will change it will
Have to share with clouds and cooling wind.
For not, it has the power but in the eyes of his general
He senses a mounting revolt but he prepared and he
Will show no mercy he will absorb them to his inner core
Where they can burn forever, and replace them with
Generals he can trust, but can he?

August is tired, angry too he gave them a great spring
But he will show them they can`t topple him so easily
Nature, once on his said is turning against him
The mighty oak tree whisper to lesser trees it is time
For the sun to share power has it not heard of democracy?
Stubbornly he hangs till clouds like battleship comes
From the north and end, his reign drowns him in torrential
That will destroy his life`s work