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
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