Just imagine a situation Where I need your intercession With some desperate men. Kidnapped at the point of a gun, Which is surely not fun, Inconsolably I weep For dear life The dust of their feet I bite And beg for respite. Like a twig I tremble For words I mumble For a cigarette I fumble Inwardly I grumble For moving without a guard Or else like dirt I could brush off these bullies Yes, it was one of my follies.
But it was not folly To behave like a bully In my office While administering justice To show my probity And exercise authority I have to have some gravity And appear somewhat haughty Specially to those who are not mighty. Now I may appear like a zero In my office I am a hero In full regalia I reign Like a mighty sovereign. I remember distinctly That very Charlie Who in a defiant fashion Now holds a gun In his selfsame hand Held a petition. I remember his cries With tears in his eyes – His village had been pillaged His young sister outraged His humble home charred And his brother butchered – To myself let me be true What did I do?
That day in his eyes it was fear Today there is only fire, That day my guard drove him away Today he holds me at bay And now in utter desperation I seek your intercession But where were you Me to rescue When in my office that day I was under someone else’s sway?
