Habsburg Nef

Sailors from the crow's nest peering

In Hans Schlottheim's Golden Galleon

Where chimes the time at every quarter

And trumpeters announce the banquet.

Within the hold an organ booming.

The galleon sways across a table

Charms the guests of one Elector

Firing tiny iron cannon

Puffs of smoke to glorify

Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph

Sedate, impassive by the mainmast

Elected by the bribable Princes

Clad in golden gilded armour

Below the delicate triple rigging

Ensconced within his ship of state

Gubernatore of his empire

At his feet a double eagle

Surmounts a Timepiece marking profits

Seems to know where Rudolph's going

Down the room around the table

Seven Electors bow in clockwork

In and round a planetary circle

Celebrate the spicy gilded

Far from shipboard

Throned above board

Holy Roman.

Mesh of churchlands held together

Cities wealthy, Princely holdings,

Lasting till the world's great shipwreck

Of the Habsburgs and their empire.

©Terry Hodgson2020