by Kathleen Watson (1943)
I believe in democracy, the right of the people to work.
I believe in democracy, I cannot shirk
The tasks that it has set me, knowing well,
I am a stronghold against fascist hell.
I believe in democracy, the people’s right
To rule the world they live in. So I fight,
Clear-headed and cold-hearted, because I know,
Democracy is only fashioned so.
Australian New Writing, No 1, 1943.