Every Man Should Have A Rifle 

So I sit and write and ponder, while the house is deaf and dumb,
 Seeing visions "over yonder" of the war I know must come.
 In the corner - not a vision - but a sign for coming days
 Stand a box of ammunition and a rifle in green baize.
 And in this, the living present, let the word go through the land,
 Every tradesman, clerk and peasant should have these two things at hand.
 
 No - no ranting song is needed, and no meeting, flag or fuss -
 In the future, still unheeded, shall the spirit come to us!
 Without feathers, drum or riot on the day that is to be,
 We shall march down, very quiet, to our stations by the sea.
 While the bitter parties stifle every voice that warns of war,
 Every man should own a rifle and have cartridges in store!

Every Man Should Have A Rifle by Henry Lawson.

Categories: Poetry, Politics, Self-Defense
Date: 2007-11-09 23:03:53, 17 years and 47 days ago

Leave reply

No html allowed in reply

Notify me of follow-up comments via email.