I held the world ransom with my pen

Daring that I would soon reveal its sins,

And bring rank faults unto the scathing scan

Of every eye that staunchly truth defends.

The world laughed and said “you silly boy,

You are of lowly birth, what can you prove

Amid the throng, who hears a lonely voice

That ever could dark hearts of stone so move?”

“You’re right,” I said, “alone I still remain—

But every line begins by single word,

And words to words beget a swelling strain,

So sung by lips of truth ‘til all is heard.

There is no greater lever held by man—

So heed my quill, and ‘give me where to stand’.”