BALLADE OF THE TYRANNY OF A COMMERCIAL EMPIRE IT is a funny thing That now and then we see, A poor and harmless king A-getting up a tree As fast as he can flee ; Much faster than his liking ; And you explain to me— “ That’s Freedom’s Eagle striking!” A poet cannot sing When lofty liberty Conceals beneath her wing Such lots of misery. Though labourers drink tea And all the girls are biking, I’m not so sure that we See Freedom’s Eagle striking! Philosophers may bring Their logic—I may be A fool or anything An out-of-date, a he 13