Who built Thebes of the Seven Gates?
In the books are the names of kings.
Did the kings carry the slabs of rock?
And Babylon so many times destroyed -
Who rebuilt it so many times? In gold-shining Lima
Where did the construction workers live?
Where did the masons go the evening the Great Wall of China
Was finished? Great Rome
Is full of triumphal arches. Who built them? Over whom
Did the Caesars triumph? Did the oft-sung Byzantium only have
Palaces for its inhabitants? Even in fabulous Atlantis
When the sea swallowed it the drowning masters
Shouted for their slaves.
Young Alexander conquered India.
He alone?
Caesar defeated the Gauls.
Didn't he at least have a cook with him?
Philip of Spain wept when his fleet went under.
Didn't anyone else weep.
Frederick the Second won in the Seven Years' War. Who
Else won?
On every page a victory.
Who cooked the victory feast?
Every ten years a Great Man.
Who paid the price?
So many reports.
So many questions.

-Bertolt Brecht

"Schiller sprach zu Goethe, Steck in dem Arsch die Flöte! Goethe sagte zu Schiller, Mein Arsch ist kein Triller!"