THE SILENT ONES

 Robert William Service 1874-1958

I’m just an ordinary chap

Who comes home to his tea,

And mostly I don’t care a rap

What people think of me;

I do my job and take my pay,

And love of peace expound;

But as I go my patient way,

–Don’t push me round.

Though I respect authority

And order never flout,

When Law and Justice disagree

You can include me out.

The Welfare State I tolerate

If it is kept in bound,

But if you wish to rouse my hate

–Just push me round.

And that’s the way with lots of us:

We want to feel we’re free;

So labour governments we cuss

And mock at monarchy.

Yea, we are men of secret mirth,

And fury seldom sound;

But if you value peace on earth

–Don’t push us round.

Robert Service "The Bard of the Yukon" was the British-born Canadian poet famous for "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" and "The Cremation of Sam McGee."

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