Do I sleep? Do I dream?

(I’m sarcastic, no doubt.)

Are things what they seem?

Or is visions about?

Is our wonderful whistle a failure, and are rattle
and truncheon played out?

Which expressions is strong;

Yet I beg to declare

That the constable throng

Have a grievance to air

While they’re forced to meet murderous cracksmen
upon terms which are far, far from fair.