So far from barren hopes they lay

They silent spent the break of day,

When from their dreams they started up

And drank their last from one shared cup.

Then, as one, they rose, with hollow eyes,

To don their arms ‘neath scarlet skies,

Red with bloody disillusionment,

The deaths of Reason, Art; Enlightenment.

They gathered round in sad conclave,

In secret grove by secret grave,

Where Justice lay in righteous earth,

Wrapped in memories of her worth.

And swore an oath with up-raised fists,

As vows rang out through gloomy mists,

To search each land and distant sea,

And slay the Hydra, Tyranny.

But doomed they were to search in vain,

With broken heart and endless pain,

For, in them, it was, the monster slept,

And, as they left, the heavens wept.