Life, 1917-01-11 · page 13 of 38
Life — January 11, 1917 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This poem, illustrated with decorative medieval and architectural imagery, appears to be a sympathetic portrayal of a deposed or exiled European monarch. The text references a king stripped of lands, gold, and royal state, whose people suffered centuries of oppression and slavery under foreign rule. The poem specifically mentions "Liège, Louvain—at Dunkerque by the sea," Belgian locations, suggesting this concerns **Belgian independence or a Belgian king during conflict** (likely WWI era, given Life's publication context). The final lines celebrate the king's "dauntless will / Unscathed, unbound and undefeated still," framing exile as noble endurance rather than defeat. The ornamental border treatment elevates the subject as heroic rather than satirical.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The King Without a Country TRIPPED of his lands, his gold, his royal state, Shorn of all trappings, save of grief and care— He knew his people ground in slav- ery, where For centuries they dwelt inviolate; Unyielding, knew them breast the wanton hate That swept their smiling, fragrant meadows bare, Destroyed their homes and made their women share A doom that continents commiserate. :xiled, betrayed, by one whose perfidy Robbed him of treasure greater that a throne— Liége, Louvain—at Dunkerque by the sea, Pacing the sands he yet may call his own, There waits a patient king—his daunt- less will Unscathed, unbound and undefeated still! Charlotte Becker.