What Is Bad? Poem by Joe Hughes

'What is the real bad? '
I asked in wondering mood.

Disorder, said the hooligan;
Ignorance said the school;

Lies, said the politician;
Pain, said the fool;

Infidelity, said the prostitute;
Wrinkles, said the madame;

Prison, said the guard;
Asylum, said the madman;

Obscurity, said the bard;
Subordination, said the slave;

My inner voice then told me;
'The answer is more grave.'

Then listening to my conscience,
I harshly heard it say:
'Cruelty is the real bad,
Yes! Cruelty is the way! '

(Written in response to fellow Drogheda man John Boyle
O'Reilly's 'What is Good?)