Stand Beside Me (Freedom's Bell) Poem by Tony O Hara

Stand beside me (Freedom's Bell)

Did you chant out your defiance along the Appian way
did you bleed with William Wallace at Falkirk that day
did you dare with Wat Tyler and keep the king at bay
did you oppose Cromwell as thousands he did slay

did you stand with Toussaint L'ouverture as he freed the Haiti slaves
did you help storm the dreaded bastille with citizens so brave
did you walk with the croppies to the top of vinegar hill
and curse the murdering canon the english fired at will

did you stand with robert emmett that day in thomas street
or walk with Fintan Lalor who's fate he went to greet
did you hold with O' Donovan Rossa and be chained on the ground
did you still defy them like tomas clarke, a spirit never bound

did you agree with Sheeny-Skeffington, when he call for womans rights
did you suffrage with Emily Davison and take up thier justice fight
did you rally with Jim Larkin against the boss's mob
did you sit beside Jim Connolly as he faced the firing squad

Did you lead with Rosa Luxemborg and light that powder keg
did you bleed amongst the orange groves with the International Brigade
did you challenge with the Mahatma, John Bulls occupation
did you enter the chambers of Belsen of Nazi extermination

did you believe in Robin island that Mandela would end division
did you roam the sierras with Che and share his wonderful vision
did you rally with Martin Luther King and have his wonderful dream
did you overcome with Allende against Pinochets war machine

did you feel the terror of those G.I's that morn in My Lai
did you face those Para butchers in Derry on Bloody Sunday
Did you organise with Seamus Costello in those Wicklow hills
Did you rebel with Miriam Daly against the Imperialist's will

did you hope with Michael Devine inside that H' block cell
for even with his dying breath he rang freedoms bell

will you stand beside us now and heed the battle call
for only when united will see a Socialist republic for all