Freely to own, is thrilling.

But when your pages, shrunken through the scare

Of that worst blow of all, a paper famine,

Dispense exclusively Bellona's fare,

And, failing battle tales, you simply cram in

Facts about spies, commodities and prices,

I writhe beneath this crisis.

I can support the other pains of war:

Transport disorganised and credit shaken,

The fear of hunger knocking at the door,