for bastille day

[fledgist]

a raft of centuries beneath the gun

enough we'd think to leave us without name

or make us all the sort you'd want to shun

eager to suffer not ones who would claim

to seize our places in the rolls of fame

not by ambition far less by design

we stand in place and go not out of line

your thought of us is as a plain mistake

and agents of a slow painful decline

but when we stand the world itself will shake

 

you think of us as merely made for fun

beings whose nature is lacking in shame

mere creatures of the torrid tropic sun

you do not want to give us too much blame

our greatest actions don't deserve acclaim

that's what you say and slavery was fine

to liberty we should not yet incline

and in the servile tasks a while partake

to be in bondage for our sort is fine

but when we stand the world itself will shake

 

of gentle qualities you say we have none

and your desire is to make us all tame

a worthy task you think and easy done

if you could only teach us proper shame

and learn to douse our anger's ready flame

so that our strength would with your wit combine

and you could rise above us all divine

the universe in your image to make

all of the stars in your name to align

but when we stand the world itself will shake

 

prince you have looked above us for a sign

that you could our natures with your chains confine

but hearts and bodies do not simply break

you think us just another sort of swine

but when we stand the world itself will shake