Protest

To sit in silence when we should protest     Makes cowards out of men.    The human race     Has climbed on protest.    Had no voice been raised     Against injustice, ignorance and lust     The Inquisition yet would serve the law     And guillotines decide our least disputes.     The few who dare must speak and speak again     To right the wrongs of many.    Speech, thank God,     No vested power in this great day and land     Can gag or throttle; Press and voice may cry     Loud disapproval of existing ills,     May criticise oppression and condemn     The lawlessness of wealth-protecting laws     That let the children and child-bearers toil     To purchase ease for idle millionaires.     Therefore do I protest against the boast     Of independence in this mighty land.     Call no chain strong which holds one rusted link,     Call no land free that holds one fettered slave.     Until the manacled, slim wrists of babes     Are loosed to toss in childish sport and glee;     Until the Mother bears no burden save     The precious one beneath her heart; until     God's soil is rescued from the clutch of greed     And given back to labour, let no man     Call this the Land of Freedom.