May Day Themes, a poem - read at the May 2 MICAH Staff Mtg

On May Day 1980, the Green and Red themes were combined when a former Buick automaker from Detroit, one “Mr. Toad,” sat at a picnic table and penned the following lines:

The eight hour day is not enough;

We are thinking of more and better stuff.

So here is our prayer and here is our plan,

We want what we want and we’ll take what we can.

Down with wars both small and large,

Except for the ones where we’re in charge:

Those are the wars of class against class,

Where we get a chance to kick some ass.

For air to breathe and water to drink,

And no more poison from the kitchen sink,

For land that’s green and life that’s saved

And less and less of the earth that’s paved.

No more women who are less than free,

Or men who cannot learn to see

Their power steals their humanity

And makes us all less than we can be.

For teachers who learn and students who teach

And schools that are kept beyond the reach

Of provosts and deans and chancellors and such

And Xerox and Kodak and Shell, Royal Dutch.

An end to shops that are dark and dingy,

An end to Bosses whether good or stingy,

And end to work that produces junk,

An end to junk that produces work,

And an end to all in charge—the jerks.

For all who dance and sing, loud cheers,

To the prophets of doom we send some jeers,

To our friends and lovers we give free beers,

And to all who are here, a day without fears.

So, on this first of May we all should say

That we will either make it or break it.

Or, to put this thought another way,

Let’s take it easy, but let’s take it.

Picked and read by John Slade, chosen from:
The Incomplete, True, Authentic and Wonderful History of May Day
Historical Essay by Peter Linebaugh