Social Commentaries
The Contemplative Sentry
From Songs of a Savoyard (1920 Macmillan Bab Ballads edition)
When all night long a chap remains
On sentry-go, to chase monotony
He exercises of his brains,
That is, assuming that he’s got any.
Though never nurtured in the lap
Of luxury, yet I admonish you,
I am an intellectual chap,
And think of things that would astonish you.
I often think it’s comical
How Nature always does contrive
That every boy and every gal,
That’s born into the world alive,
Is either a little Liberal,
Or else a little Conservative!
Fal lal la!
When in that house M.P.’s divide,
If they’ve a brain and cerebellum, too,
They’ve got to leave that brain outside,
And vote just as their leaders tell ’em to.
But then the prospect of a lot
Of statesmen, all in close proximity,
A-thinking for themselves, is what
No man can face with equanimity.
Then let’s rejoice with loud Fal lal
That Nature wisely does contrive
That every boy and every gal,
That’s born into the world alive,
Is either a little Liberal,
Or else a little Conservative!
Fal lal la!
Cite this poem
MLA
Gilbert, W. S. “The Contemplative Sentry.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/gilbert/44/.
Chicago
Gilbert, W. S. “The Contemplative Sentry.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/gilbert/44/.
Read this poem with the Codex →