Said the Kaiser to the Spy
Said the Kaiser to the Spy - meaning Summary
Taunting Question of England's Fate
A taunting dialogue in which the Kaiser boasts to a spy that England is powerless during World War I. The poem lists German military actions and colonial threats while adopting a mocking, conversational tone. Repeated questions — "Now tell me what can England do?" — underline both German confidence and underlying anxiety. The final stanza flips to uncertainty: the Kaiser’s swagger collapses into worry about consequences, asking what England will do next.
Read Complete AnalysesNow tell me what can England do? Said the Kaiser to the Spy. She can do nought, your Majesty You rule the sea and sky. Her day of destiny is done; Her path of peace is plain; For she dare never throw a troop Across the Strait again. The Kaiser sent his mighty host, With Bombast in advance, To set his seal on Paris first, And make an end of France. Their guns were heard in Paris streets, And trembling Europe heard; (They’re staggering back in Belgium now) And England said no word. Now tell me what can England do? Said the Kaiser to the Spy. She can do nought in Southern seas Where her possessions lie! Her colonies are arming now They only wait your aid! I’ll send my ships, the Kaiser said, And I will kill her trade! The Kaiser sent his cruisers forth To do their worst or best; And one made trouble in the North The Cocos tell the rest. He sent a squadron to a coast Where treachery prevailed Gra’mercy! They were stricken hard On seas that Raleigh sailed! Now tell me what can England do? Said the Kaiser to the Spy. Her ports are all unfortified And there your chances lie! He sent his ships to Scarborough, And called them back again. The Blucher lies in Channel ooze With seven hundred men. Oh, tell me what can England do? Said the Kaiser to the Spy. She can’t hold Egypt for a day (I have it from On High.) And so the Kaiser paid the Turk To put the matter through And England’s Queen of Egypt now, And boss of Turkey too. Now tell me what shall England do? Said the Kaiser to the Spy. You see that neither of them knew Much more than you or I. But the blooming thing that’s troubling me As the pregnant weeks go by, Is wotinell shall England do When the Kaiser hangs that Spy!
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