No evil

No evil was implanted his soul,

His open face revealed no trace of hate,

But fearing to be lost, he paid his toll

And joined the rag-tag army at the gate.

That mob was not like family; they fought,

They lied and cheated, shanked their friends and stole.

A bigger this and more of that they sought;

Stamped on each other's heads to climb the pole.

Yet there were some who wouldn't heed the drum,

Who turned away, disgusted, on the side,

Deploring the red-faced struggle in the scrum

And white-lipped greed bamboozling the green-eyed.

Too proud to brawl, or crawl in grey-faced stress

The gilt road leading on to place and power,

They valued honour, truth and kindliness

And peace that can outlast the desperate hour.

And I for one aspire to be as they.

Although I fail, I strive to live with grace;

A warm heart and a pure thought to obey

And not the false commands of a false race.

This shining truth self-evident I hold,

That only those who won't be led are gold.