
With Thanks to Mr. Kipling
TAKE up the Blue Man's burden - Enlist forth the best ye breed - Go bind your kids to service To all the public's need; To wait in heavy harness With Badge pinned on your chest - Confront the criminal element That never is at rest. Take up the Blue Man's burden - In patience to abide To veil the threat of terror And check the show of pride; By open speech and simple, An hundred threats diffuse, The Angry, doped or sullen, So normal lives resumes. Take up the Blue Man's burden - To savage streets give peace - Be present at the accident So life may not soon cease; When every single moment From domestic to traffic stop, May bring unexpected crisis To Bring your hopes to naught. Take up the Blue Man's burden - No social workers in sight, As you walk the streets and sweep em Neighborhoods full of fright. When calls are make go enter, Where others fear to tread, Confront them with your living, And mark them with your dead ! Take up the Blue Man's burden - And reap the new reward, The blame of those you protect, The hate of those you guard - The tag of "racist" bear it As activists make their cry:- Though you're the first they shout for, If foes come in their sight Take up the Blue Man's burden - You dare not stoop to less - And enjoy the sweet poured coffee To cloak your weariness; Your spouse may cry and worry, When leave for work you do, While media and academia All throw their ire at you. Take up the Blue Man's burden - Have done with childish days - Don't seek lightly proffered laurels, Or Cultures easy, praise. Come serve protect and guard them Through all the thankless years, And when day duties are over, Know you've have earned your beer.