[Dedicated to those high-minded and dispassionate leader-writers who,
after prefacing their remarks with the declaration that "we hold no
brief for--" extreme views of all sorts, proceed to show that the
conduct of the extremist is invariably explained, if not justified, by
the iniquities of the Coalition Government.]
I hold no brief for LENIN
Or TROTSKY or their breed;
Their way of doing men in
Is foreign to my creed;
But, since to me LLOYD GEORGE is
A source of deeper dread,
For Bolshevistic orgies
A great deal may be said.
I hold a brief for no land
That tramples on its kin;
My heart once bled for Poland
And groaned for Russia's sin;
But, if to clear the tangle
WINSTON is given his head,
I feel that General WRANGEL
Were better downed and dead.
I hold no brief--I swear it--
For militant Sinn Fein;
I really cannot bear it
When constables are slain;
But if you mention CARSON
I feel that for the spread
Of murder and of arson
A good deal can be said.
I hold no brief for SMILLIE
Or for the miners' claims;
I disapprove most highly
Of many of their aims;
But when I see the Wizard
Enthroned in ASQUITH'S stead,
It cuts me to the gizzard
And dyes my vision Red.
I hold no brief for madmen
On revolution bent,
For bitter or for bad men
On anarchy intent;
But sooner far than "stop" them
With Coalition lead,
To foster and to prop them
I'd leave no word unsaid.
* * * * *
=Our Decadent Poets.=