| Walter Murdoch (1874–1970). The Oxford Book of Australasian Verse. 1918. |
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| 202. All men are free! |
| | | By Elliott Napier |
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| ‘ALL men are free and equal born | |
| Before the Law!’ So runs the worn | |
| And specious, lying, parrot-cry. | |
| All men are free—to starve or sigh; | |
| But few to feed on Egypt’s corn. | 5 |
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| There toils the sweated slave, forlorn; | |
| There weeps the babe with hunger torn; | |
| Dear God! Forgive us for the lie— | |
| ‘All men are free!’ | |
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| That man may laugh while this must mourn; | 10 |
| One’s heir to honour, one to scorn— | |
| Were they born free? Were you? Was I? | |
| No! Not when born, but when they die | |
| And of their robes—or rags—are shorn, | |
| All men are free! | 15 |
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