JUST THOUGHTS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 52, 15 March 1946, Page 5

JUST THOUGHTS

LESS NONSENSE : MORE JUSTICE Let’s have less nonsense from the Friends of Joe, We laud,.we love him; but the nonsense—no! In 1940, when we bore the brunt We could have done, boys, with a Second Front. A continent went down a cataract, But Russia did not think it right to act. Not ready? No. And who shall call her wrong? Far better not to strike till you are strong. Better, perhaps, though this was not our fate, To make new treaties with the man you hate. Alas, these shy manoeuvres had to end When Hitler leaped upon his largest friend (And if he'd not, I wonder, by the way, If Russia would be in the war today) But who rushed out to aid the giant then—

A giant rich in corn, and oil, and men, Long, long prepared, and having so they say. The most enlightened ruler of the day? This tiny island, antiquated, tired, Effete, capitalist, and uninspired! This tiny island badly wounded in the war Through taking tyrants on two years before! This tiny island of muddles and mistakes — / Having a Front on every wave that breakes! We might have said “Our shipping’s on the stretch— You shall have all the tanks that you can fetch.” But that is not the way we fight this war; We give them tanks—and take them to the door. And now we will not hear from anyone That it’s for us to show we hate the Hun. It does not profit much to sing this tune; EjLpt those who “prod” cannot be quite immune: And those who itch to conquer and to kill Should waste less breath on tubs on Tower Hill Honour the Kremlin boys, but now and then Admit some signs of grace at Number 10.