Of Churchill, Anwar Ibrahim and Our Finest Hour

Twas the year nineteen hundred and twoscore,
A speech immortalised forevermore:
Lo! The First Lord of the Treasury rose,
With him the fate of the nation repose.
Afore the Despatch Box he stood alone:
Resolve his thought and gravity his tone.

“We shall fight in France”, the Commons they heard,
“Fight on the beaches”, declared the Hansard.
“To the end… whatever the cost may be”,
“Never surrender”, defiant was he.

Now the year two thousand and eleven,
Across the seas on this side of Heaven -
Stands in court a man the hope of millions
In battle with Darkness and his minions.
But with words of the truth alone his arm
Will this sword suffice to keep him from harm?

Perchance conscience trouble the learnéd judge?
Will he repent his ways or will he fudge?
Nay, Evil’s attraction is great indeed,
Lush rewards if you would only do his bid.

Yet firmly spoke our man with words sincere,
With quotes from Mandela and from Shakespeare.
He made his defense and spoke from the dock,
Fought smear with reasons as solid as rock -
But to what end are evidences these
If the court is of marsupial species?

For ’tis given the judge will not recuse
But Evil will dictate just the excuse.
Double the sinister will he concoct,
‘Til impervious to all righteous retort.
Thus should our man fall to Evil’s designs,
Wilt thou then rise until Evil resigns?

Hark thou the rally cry of the masses,
Arise! Dress thou to this banner glorious!
Lo! Brothers and Sisters lend me thy ear,
Reject the Scale of divide and conquer,
But cling to Faith, to Justice, to Fairness.
(Loyalty to Their Royal Highnesses)
Guard thee our ballot, our trusted Sentry,

Now is the eve of our greatest vict’ry!
For our children will confess and honour,
That this today is our finest hour.

Steven Foong (2011-08-23)

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