Has it ever struck you fellers, when you feel inclined to rise,
   An’ rave about the things that should be done,
That in regard to “markin’ time,” it’s well to recognise
   It’s us, that’s me an’ you, that take the bun?
Did you ever stop to reckon, when you think of chances gone,
   Before you start to raise a holy fuss,
That it’s up to us to own that in the game of “pass it on:
   The party most responsible is “Us”?

There’s some of us supposed to own some brains beneath our lids,
   But stand supportin’ posts and strikin’ lights,
When we ought to be supportin’ each a wife and sundry kids,
   And strikin’ for our country and out rights.
We spout about the birth rate, or the land laws, an’ we skite
   That Australia is bound to miss the ‘bus;
Blame politicians, parsons, pubs, or anything in sight,
   When the blokes we ought to blame is mainly “Us.”

We may reckon Reid’s a rotter, or Carruthers is a skite,
   An’ the Legislative Council mostly goat;
But we’re so dam busy tellin’ one another of our plight,
   We forget to go across the road an’ vote.
We bray “We are the people!” an’ we scorn the Fat Man’s rule;
   Ay, but pause when you get called upon to cuss
The tyrant, or the bungler, or the waster or the fool.
   What’s the matter with the men that made ‘em –- “Us”?

"Den"
The Gadfly, 28 February 1906, p13