Imperialist Bastard VII: The Anvil

The Anvil

Norman Conquest, 1066

ENGLAND'S on the anvil--hear the hammers ring--
   Clanging from the Severn to the Tyne!
Never was a blacksmith like our Norman King--
   England's being hammered, hammered, hammered into line!

England's on the anvil!  Heavy are the blows!
   (But the work will be a marvel when it's done.)
Little bits of Kingdoms cannot stand against their foes.
   England's being   hammered  hammered, hammered into one!

There shall be one people--it shall serve one Lord--
    (Neither Priest nor Baron shall escape!)
It shall have one  speech  and  law,  soul  and  strength  and  sword.
   England's  being  hammered,  hammered,  hammered  into
      shape!

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I like this metaphor. Even though an invasion's something bad, it had a unifying effect.
England came out changed, yes. But stronger.

So too are our lives. We are like iron on the anvil.
It is the blows of life that make us stronger.