Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE RADICAL, by PERCY STICKNEY GRANT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE RADICAL, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I stand for the man
Last Line: I can at least suffer a little on their account.
Subject(s): Injustice


I stand for the man
Who cannot get justice in any court
For the poor man
Who only gets a moral lecture from the judge, --
Platitudes about the Declaration of Independence;
About one man in America having as good a chance as another,
And a sentence for thirty days, six months or a year.

I stand for the man
Who does not like so much talk about the flag
By women who are fond of color;
By men who rob the people
And who foment war for their profit.

I stand for the man
Who is sick of this piffle
About God
From ministers and millionaires,
Who seem to own God,
He treats them so well.

I feel better for the blows I receive
As the friend of undesirable citizens.
My revolt is a little of the revolt in them.
My insults are a part of the blows they receive.
If I do not explode
With as much love and hate as they do,
And get lodged in jail,
I can at least suffer a little on their account.





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