He looks to the sea
(maybe)
recalling some of his recent history.
Having lost at the Battle of Leipzig
the little Corsican scurried back
to France
but,
having no army behind him
had no choice but to abdicate
and, for his troubles was sent
into exile.
Permitted to rule the small
Mediterranean island of Elba
still being called Emperor
Bonaparte created another small army
and, after hearing rumors
of his forthcoming banishment to
another even more remote island
he promptly escaped.
Back in his beloved France
he raised yet another army
over 200,000 strong
but,
against the sixth coalition
was vastly outnumbered.
His Waterloo had come.
Beaten again, he surrendered.
But to prevent his escaping this time
was sent to St. Helena
and with no possible means of escape
resigned to his fate
wrote his memoirs.
Some say he died from stomach cancer
others, that he was poisoned
Maybe we will never know
but we’ll never forget the name of
Napoleon Bonaparte.
~*~
© Daydreamertoo *All rights reserved
Shared with dVersePoets Poetics: Exile
enlivened a bit of history–enjoyed!
Pulling history into poetics form like this is a wonderful achievement. If there’s one event to exhibit exilt, it’s Napoleon’s on Helena. Excellent.
This reads well and I found myself wanting more, great take on the prompt!
Very cool, love this historical take on a famous exile! Nicely done. Love the mystery at the end, and no, we don’t forget his name!
The facts lend substance to a look at a practice we should reexamine– of banishment… nicely done! xj http://parolavivace.blogspot.com .
ahah — the ultimate exile. Icinic really of the concept. Well chosen and you turned him into a human being – I wonder what that island looks like today.
Wonderful that you covered Napoleon through poetry… I wonder what he would have made of it! Nicely done.
… great poem, B … but never liked the little , “great” man … to much blood on his hands … Love, cat.
There’s always a bit more to learn about this guy – thanks!
Great historical take on this theme, love it.
The ultimate exile makes compulsive reading/
I’d forgotten a lot of this form history, Bren, thank you for this creatively rendered rendition!
Can’t think of any more greater than Napoleon, Bren! Thanks for sharing!
Certainly not a figure who is easily forgotten… great historical write!
Wonderful write! How do you know all that stuff!
What a great idea to take an historical exile. Napoleon was quite an example. Nice one.
Question is: Was Napoleon famous or infamous? Depends on one’s perspective. Sad that such a conquerer was eventually banished to Elba to spend the remainder of his days. At least he was able to write his memoirs.
no we will not forget him…or his tucked in hand…ha…men like this though you never know how they really went…its the mystery of history…must have been heart breaking to go into exile…
He sure left his mark ~ I read though he was poisoned fatally ~
Happy weekend ~
No, we most certainly won’t forget… a nice tribute.
Napoleon a prime example of the exiled (but unrepentant!) He must have been an incredibly charismatic figure, as your poem conveys. k.
yep…we will never forget this name..he wasn’t tall size-wise but surely left some big footprints around europe..