Liberty

by the late Georg Danzer I'd forgotten how timely this is.

Not long ago I visited the zoo.
I felt so good; the sun was shining, too.
Before a cage a crowd of people stood.
And so I thought I'd go and have myself a look.
I thought I'd wander over for a closer look.


I saw a sign that read 'Please Do Not Feed,
And As Quite Wild, Please Do Not Tease!'
The children and the grown-ups looked struck dumb.
A near-by guard looked on, said nothing, was so glum.
A guard, looked on, said nothing, was so glum.


'Which animal is THAT?', I asked him, 'please?'
He looked surprised, but answered 'Liberty.
Throughout the world, it's dying off so fast,
That it's shown here for a dollar and a half.
Oh yes, we show it for a dollar-and-a-half.'


I took a look, was shocked, could only stare.
'What IS this, sir?' I asked. 'There's nothing there!'
'But that's the point!' he told me, was sincere.
'As soon as caught, it simply disappears.
As soon as caught, it up and simply disappears!'


'For Liberty is strange, and wondrous, sir.
Though many people are afraid of her.
Imprisoned, she immediately dies.
But in Freedom, Liberty can just survive. Only in Freedom can sweet Liberty survive.'