The King Dies Royally

The King dies royally; he sinks
Lost in a silver-golden fire,
Like some old Viking chief who went
Adrift upon a blazing pyre

Beyond the lost and desolate
Edge of the grey and ancient sea,
While all the sky burst into flame,
And flaming faded utterly.

Ah, thus may fall the ultimate sun
When all the world is bright with death,
When all man's passionate race is run—
So royally he perisheth.

—J.C.B.

Bass Strait, 22/8/26.