for bastille day

a raft of centuries beneath the gun
enough we'd think to leave us without name
or make us all the sort you'd want to shun
eager to suffer not ones who would claim
to seize our places in the rolls of fame
not by ambition far less by design
we stand in place and go not out of line
your thought of us is as a plain mistake
and agents of a slow painful decline
but when we stand the world itself will shake

you think of us as merely made for fun
beings whose nature is lacking in shame
mere creatures of the torrid tropic sun
you do not want to give us too much blame
our greatest actions don't deserve acclaim
that's what you say and slavery was fine
to liberty we should not yet incline
and in the servile tasks a while partake
to be in bondage for our sort is fine
but when we stand the world itself will shake

of gentle qualities you say we have none
and your desire is to make us all tame
a worthy task you think and easy done
if you could only teach us proper shame
and learn to douse our anger's ready flame
so that our strength would with your wit combine
and you could rise above us all divine
the universe in your image to make
all of the stars in your name to align
but when we stand the world itself will shake

prince you have looked above us for a sign
that you could our natures with your chains confine
but hearts and bodies do not simply break
you think us just another sort of swine
but when we stand the world itself will shake