Balnibarbian Glumtrap Rhyme

Abstract

(Repeated by the children in the nurseries of Balnibarbi.)¹ DISTANT scintillating star, Shall I tell you what you are? Nay, for I can merely know What you were some years ago. For, the rays that reach me here May have left your photosphere Ere the fight of Waterloo— Ere the pterodactyl flew ! Many stars have passed away Since your æther-shaking ray On its lengthy journey sped— So that you, perhaps, are dead ! Smashed in some tremendous war With another mighty star— You and all your planets just Scattered into cosmic dust ! Strange, if you have vanished quite, That we still behold your light, Playing for so long a time Some celestial pantomime ! But, supposing all is well, What you're made of, can I tell? Yes, 'twill be an easy task If my spectroscope I ask, There—your spectrum now is spread Down from ultra-blue to red, Crossed by dark metallic lines, Of your cooler layer the signs. Hence among the starry spheres You've arrived at middle years— You are fairly old and ripe, Of our solid solar type. Ah, your sodium line is seen Strongly shifted towards the green. Hence you are approaching me With a huge velocity ! But, if some celestial woe Overtook you long ago, : And to swift destruction hurled Life on every living world, Did there in the fiery tide Perish much of pomp and pride— Many emperors and kings, Going to do awful things? Mighty schemes of mighty czars— Mighty armies, glorious wars ! From the Nebula they may Rise to curse a world some day !