in cold type

a story told  was measured once in lead

the words turned cold and grey with its hard weight

but in our age we value fear and dread

 

a single message on the page was spread

to give the people the plain meaning straight

a story told was measured once in lead

 

meanings held firm in each old reader's head

if not on paper we could see the date

but in our age we value fear and dread

 

above the meanings that were sent to bed

as the last call of copy came so late

a story told was measured once in lead

 

where pixels and electrons rule instead

no paradise nor  true human estate

for in our age we value fear and dread

 

up to the point where even we are led

to recognise the symbols on the plate

a story told was measured once in lead

but in our age we value fear and dread