To die for your ideas. The idea is excellent
But I came close to dying for not having one,
For all those who had it, an overwhelming mass,
While howling for my blood came at me with full force.
They managed to convince me, and my insolent muse
Recanting her mistakes, rallies to their belief
With one tiny proviso all the same
Let us die for ideas, fine! but let death come slow
Fine! But, let death come slow.
Judging that there’s is no great risk in hanging on
Let us go to the other world taking our time
Because, forcing the pace, chance is that you might die
For ideas, no longer current on the morrow.
Now if there is a thing, bitter, and heart-breaking
On rendering one’s soul to God, it’s to find out
That you went wrong and latched onto the wrong idea.
Let us die for ideas, fine! but let death come slow
Fine! But, let death come slow.
The Saint John Chrysotoms (3) who preach for martyrdoms
Most often, besides, dawdle down here on earth.
To die for ideas, we are quite right to say so
Is their reason for living, they won’t do without.
In almost all the groups, you see some supplanting
Soon Methuselah’s record for longevity.
I conclude that they must whisper to each other:
Let us die for ideas, fine! but let death come slow
Fine!! But, let death come slow.
Ideas demanding the supreme sacrifice
Sects of every ilk offer followers of these
And the question is asked of the novice victims:
To die for ideas, is very nice - but which?
And as they are all alike, one with the other
When he sees them coming, with their great big standard
The wise man, hesitating, gives the tomb more time.
Let us die for ideas, fine! but let death come slow
Fine! But, let death come slow
Again, if it took only a few mass slaughters
For all at last to change, all at last be put right
Since so many grand nights when so many heads fell
In our heaven on earth we’d be already there
But the golden age is postponed constantly
The gods are still athirst, have never had enough
And it is death, death, over and over again
Let us die for ideas, fine! but let death come slow
Fine! But, let death come slow
Oh you firebrands, oh you the good apostles,
Be the first to die then, we stand aside for you.
But for mercy’s sake, heavens! allow the rest to live.
Life is nearly their sole luxury down here
For in truth, the grim reaper keeps close enough watch enough
She does not need people to hold for her the scythe
No more dance macabre around the grim scaffolds
Let us die for ideas, fine! but let death come slow
Fine! But, let death come slow