Axis & Allies - damowords

To Arms!
Throʹ the verdant Provencal mountain mass
Wound a mile long, eʹerclimbing martial train,
Throʹ the great, green gorge of the La Faye Pass,
Past the chapel‐cappʹd crag of Castellane;
In constant cheer,
Thoʹ weary leagues pass by,
Like tireless Gondolier neath a Venetian sky.
A fat Provencal family
Sat gatherʹd & set to eat,
Heard clattering cacophony,
Swift uplifted from their seat
They leapt outside, strange sight to see ‐
Cavalry throngʹd the street;
Tall Polish horsemen with long, lavish lance,
The vanguard of the fallen sword of France.
Her husbandʹs loving breath was done,
He donnʹd the dusty blue,
Her darling son, his little drum,
& father donnʹd them too ‐
Throʹ tears of pain & tears of pride she watchʹd them glide
from view.
Barreme
4th March 1815
Startling News
He who adventures tastes lifeʹs richest fruit,
As do the kings, who, of the seven sins,
Choose glutinous luxury as their suit;
The fat King Louisʹ seven wobbling chins
Settle to eat
The peasantries long day,
Fine platters of sweet‐meat swillʹd down with Chardonnay.
Clutching a despatch from Digne
The blustering messenger
Burst the royal serenity,
ʺThe monsters escaped Elba!ʺ
ʺHas he landed in Italyʺ
ʺNon! On the Cotes DʹAzor!ʺ
Throʹ the bay window the fluttering wing,
Eagleʹs grim shadow cast across the King.
ʺGo bring me Ney,ʺ the Coquin said,
Away scuttlʹd the page,
How soon that head ablaze with red
Strode warlike to the stage,
ʺI shall drag him back to Paris, sire, within an iron cage.ʺ
Tuilleries
4th March