At nothing, Harmsworth? Nothing?
Once again
One wants to plead, though one must plead in vain,
That you would condescend to clearer terms.
“Nothing” might mean, e.g., the use of germs.
But that, no doubt, was not before your eyes,
For germs fly both ways, and one may surmise
You’d rather not, even if all else fail,
Wipe out en masse the readers of the Mail
That special vileness would be inconvenient.
What you mean is that we have been too lenient
To neutrals who, with calculated force,
We might compel to steer a friendlier course,
To silly races, living at a distance,
Whom we might sell, thus purchasing assistance.
That we have been too fond of paper fights,
Much, much too fond of other people’s ” rights”
And idiotic laws by land and sea
That should not count against necessity.
But pause, proud lord, and think . , . did we resort
To any measure of whatever sort,
To bullying, lying, wanton butchery,
To every Mnd of paying atrocity,
Might not seditious men, who have no sense,
Urge that the two contending Governments
Should cease to chant unmeaning Hymns of Hate,
Lay down their arms, and just amalgamate?
(John Collings Squire)
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Based on Topics: Man Poems, Sense & Perception Poems, Doubt & Skepticism Poems, Hatred Poems, Necessity PoemsBased on Keywords: bullying, vileness, idiotic, inconvenient, butchery, seditious, calculated, friendlier, atrocity, purchasing, neutrals