second class people

we are not asked to face a single test
but only once to go through one small gate
behind us every day they burn the nest

nobody knows the proper place of rest
we're always told that we arrive too late
we are not asked to face a single test

not one of us could claim to be the best
nor keep in these sad days a proper state
behind us every day they burn the nest

no one has told us why we are on quest
nor why we have been charged for all the freight
we are not asked to face a single test

we long each day to go back to the breast
not knowing the full reason for debate
behind us every day they burn the nest

so much of time has been wholly compressed
into the context of our human fate
we are not asked to face a single test
behind us every day they burn the nest