The other day I chanced to meet
An angry man upon the street
A man of wrath, a man of war,
A man who truculently bore
Over his shoulder, like a lance,
A banner labeled Tolerance.
And when I asked him why he strode
Thus scowling down the human road,
Scowling, he answered, I am he
Who champions total liberty
Intolerance being, maam, a state
No tolerant man can tolerate.
When I meet rogues, he cried, who choose
To cherish oppositional views,
Lady, like this, and in this manner,
I lay about me with my banner
Till they cry mercy, maam. His blows
Rained proudly on prospective foes.
Fearful, I turned and left him there
Still muttering, as he thrashed the air,
Let the Intolerant beware!
