Emperors of the Island – Danny Abse
There is a story of a deserted Island
Where five men walked down to the shore
The story of the Island is
that three men would two men slay
Three men dug two graves in the sand
Three men stood on the sea wet rock
Three shadows moved away.
There is a story of a deserted Island
Where three men walked down to the shore
The story of the Island is
that two men would one men slay
Two men dug one grave in the sand
Two men stood on the sea wet rock
Two shadows moved away.
There is a story of a deserted Island
Where two men walked down to the shore
The story of the Island is
that one men would one men slay
One men dug one grave in the sand
One men stood on the sea wet rock
One shadow moved away.
There is a story of a deserted Island
Where one man walked down to the shore
The story of the Island is
that four ghosts would one men slay
Five ghosts dug one grave in the sand
No men stood on the sea wet rock
No shadows moved away.
© Danny Abse 1957
See also The Poetry Station where Danny Abse recites a different version of this poem. © The English and Media Centre
The copyright of the music is held by Stuart Moffatt (© 1969).
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