Classic Poem

Of liberty, reform, and rights I sing —
Freedom I mean, without or church or king;
Freedom to seize and keep whate'er I can,
And boldly claim my right — The Rights of Man!
Such is the blessed liberty in vogue,
The envied liberty to be a rogue,
The right to pay no taxes, tithes or dues,
The liberty to do whate'er I choose;
The right to take by violence and strife
My neighbour's goods, and (if I please) his life;
The liberty to raise a mob or riot
(For spoil and plunder ne'er were got by quiet);
The right to level and reform the great;
The liberty to overturn the state;
The right to break through all the nation's laws
And boldly dare to take rebellion's cause:
Let all be equal, every man my brother —
Why have one property and not another?
Why suffer titles to give awe and fear?
There shall not long remain one British peer —
Nor shall the criminal appalled stand
Before the mighty judges of the land;
Nor judge nor jury shall there longer be,
Nor any jail, but ev'ry pris'ner free;
All law abolished, and with sword in hand
We'll seize the property of all the land.
Then hail to liberty, reform and riot! —
Adieu contentment, safety, peace and quiet!