THE SPEECH

Before a poor, ignorant crowd

A wild propagandist loud

Shrieked a socialistic speech,

But such pompous terms and thick,

Artistic, scientific

Went with each oratoric screech

That the crowd in silence heard

Wishing of course to applaud,

But expecting a strong word

They could understand, to laud.

«Procrastinators, banditti

Reactionary, servile,

Full‑considerately vile!ª

In this way, pompously witty

He talked and the crowd heard on.

«You», he continued, «each Don

Of financial bloated leer,

I excommunicate here

Before Justice throne severe;

You I detest, I abhor…»

Here a laugh applauding rough

The wide air from the crowd tore.

«That word», they cried in a roar,

«We understand well enough!»