If Ever I Had a Country
IF EVER I HAD A COUNTRY…
I
If ever I had a country
And if I were but a low-paid Judge
I'd mind every line and leaf of the Law
And let no one step over the Bench
Nor will I let any Law-Maker
Break but a word of his
That is, if I were just a judge
And even if I never had no country
II
If ever I had a country
And I were but a common policeman
No matter how lean my native shores
I'd patrol the streets at all hours
Citizens, nay, immigrants too, behind unlocked doors
Will sleep the sleep of the untrammelled Just
That is, if I were even just a policeman
And even if I never had no country
III
If ever I had a country
And if I were the Chief Exec
And the hoi polloi shunned the polls
Abstensions thrice over thrust me up in office
I'd rather commit felo de se
Than as top Magistrate refuse hemlock
That is, if ever I were the Chief Exec
And even if I never had no country
IV
If ever I had a country
And if I were the Plenipotentiary
And the popular vote went to my Enemy
I'd go back to making or losing money
I'd surrender my post to run my own company
Even if it were under the company of my Enemy
That is, if I were the very Plenipotentiary
And even if I never had no country
© T. Wignesan - Paris, 2018
Copyright © T Wignesan | Year Posted 2018
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