14 March, 2024
FROM BEHIND BARS (1)
Since his writings are so damn revolting,
He\'ll get the retribution we be now a-brewing;
Yes, he doth need some punishment exemplary,
So that henceforth others be rather more wary.
He pretends to be an expert at all things,
And incessantly churns out his mad ravings;
But, we will certainly cut him down to size,
As finally he will be made to realise.
Vainly will he claim some sort of immunity
To protect his sheer vulgarity and impunity,
But, of our cells he will be made to taste,
When, to jail, we will send him post-haste.
He recklessly pours out his venomous bile,
Regardless of how the fabric of society be fragile;
But, freedom is only what we decide it should be,
As this bloody loony for himself soon will see.
Dragg\'d and march\'d, handcuff\'d and brand\'d
For all to see, will he triumphantly be parad\'d,
And made to swallow back his insolent assertions,
And repent totally for his revolting recriminations.
But, swears back defiantly the bold poet,
Well may thou poke me with thy bayonet,
Yet, my pen is mightier than thy truncheon,
Thy sword, thy gun, thy tank, thy dungeon.
***
Yes, a poet must write at liberty
What a poet must write for humanity;
Though he be not fully right at times,
He must be free to forge out his rhymes.
Ye might not like his writings,
Ye might not favour his ravings,
But ye cannot muzzle him up really,
For, a myriad more will rise up speedily.
From far away will rise some great solidarity,
From many a distant town and remote city
Help will come for the writer brand\'d as loony,
And turn his endeavour into sheer celebrity.
If the fabric be not enough strong,
Then go and re-educate yon throng,
Rather than try to gag a fearless poet
And brand him with many a cruel epithet.
Let these works be a plea against repression,
A plea for the great freedom of expression,
For upholding the rights of all writers,
For the protection of courageous publishers.
On our lips let these works forever blossom,
Or, to tyranny must we pay a heavy ransom ;
Let us promote the defence of literary freedom,
And, of repression, let us abolish the custom !
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