Fable for a War

The old Roman sow Bears a new litter now To fatten for a while On the same imperial swill. The cannibal wolf will dig And root out Spanish bones beside the pig. Germany has reared A rare ugly bird To screech a sour song In the German tongue: Tell me if there be A sparrowhawk for such birds as he? The parrots lift their beaks And fill the air with shrieks. Ambassador is sent From the parrots’ parliament: “Oh see how fine I fly And nibble crackers got in Germany.” Europe is a feast For every bloody beast: Jackals will grow fat On the bones after that. But in the end of all None but the crows can sing the funeral. Germany has reared A rare ugly bird, But crows ate Roman pig Before this bird was egg. And in the end of all Crows will come back and sing the funeral.