Give me, O God, the power of laughter still...

Give me, O God, the power of laughter still,

I shall have need of humour, deftest foil

Against the army of infuriated pride,

Against the shields of reason, and the spears

Of savage moments, sharp-edged bitterness;

Against the blazoned armour of intolerance,

And all the flags of sentiment waved aloft....

Love, Humour, and Rebellion, go with me,

Three musketeers of faithful following.

We will fear nothing.— Is not laughter brave,

That unconcerned goes rippling through despair?

Is not rebellion brave, that fiercely moves

Against the buttressed prisons of the world?

And is not love the bravest of them all,

So frail to hold his white hands up to Heaven

While the red fists are threatening all around,

And hate is beating on the battledrums?

As d'Artagnan upon a starved grey horse

Goes singing ballads on adventurous roads,

I ride my fancy blithely into danger

To throw my gauntlet at the feet of pride

And stick my roses in the cap of Love....