When plastered billboards scream with slogans <br />'fight for your country, go to battle' <br />When media's print assults your senses, <br />'Support our leaders' shrieks and rattles... <br />And fools who don't know any better <br />Believe the old, eternal lie <br />That we must march and shoot and kill <br />Murder, and burn, and bomb, and grill... <br /> <br />When press begins the battle-cry <br />That nation needs to unify <br />And for your country you must die... <br />Dear brainwashed friend, my neighbor dear <br />Brother from this, or other nation <br />Know that the cries of anger, fear, <br />Are nothing but manipulation <br />by fat-cats, kings who covet riches, <br />And feed off your sweat and blood - the leeches! <br />When call to arms engulfs the land <br />It means that somewhere oil was found, <br />Shooting 'blackgold' from underground! <br />It means they found a sneaky way <br />To make more money, grab more gold <br />But this is not what you are told! <br /> <br />Don't spill your blood for bucks or oil <br />Break, burn your rifle, shout: 'NO DEAL!' <br />Let the rich scoundrels, kings, and bankers <br />Send their own children to get killed! <br />May your loud voice be amplified <br />By roar of other common men <br />The battle-weary of all nations: <br />WE WON'T BE CONNED TO WAR AGAIN!<br /><br />Julian Tuwim<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-common-man/
