Written Upon Seeing Buckingham Palace

There's blood in these stones.
These walls are filled with skulls and bones
and all the wealth that they brought home
when they sailed back from around the globe.


Death built his castle here.
He sailed on tides of power and fear
he bellowed so all the world could hear
he sailed back home on children's tears.


And when Death came and built his house
the people gloried and sang aloud,
they built him temples and statues around;
they sang to him, and he liked the sound.


Now the ships have all come home
having brought back what the world had owned;
and as I gaze, and remember the moans,
methinks Death does build most lovely stones. 
                                                                            DH