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Peter Steward's Web Pages |
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Thought on a Theme of Edmund Burkes, Argued by Thomas Paine They argued against each other with infinite exactitude Pondering their problems and their views. They wrote against each other And against the respective situations that they hated. They wished no harm, but meant no good To each other. They were of the same skin, but fairly spoken were different One an Irishman, one from England. The first was a Whig turned Tory after the revolution That had upset the established order, He was not wealthy but sincere in his views Putting forward the idea that the community was organic And a partnership between those living, those dead and those to be born. A partnership in every virtue and perfection. He was wholeheartedly against the revolution Helping to influence the highest And giving the influential people a creed to live by He was against the revolution that had stalked in "terreur," Burning, looting in its joyous savagery. The other a common corset stay maker Who had gone to America for his common sense. He believed society a blessing that was needed, but government a necessary evil Entwined in mankind. He didn't believe in governing from beyond the grave. It was his "ridiculous tyranny." He attacked his opponent accusing him of pitying the plumage but forgetting the dying bird. The atrocities were necessary, Two men so different but yet still the same, Sincere in their beliefs But both dead Even agreeing with their parts
Dead inorganic matter Perhaps Burke still rules us from the grave. |