The Torch Committee

Good evening, may we say again

How pleased we are that you've come in

The day was long, your bed was soft

Still there's some names we're crossing off

It says here by your file you

Have been so loyal, brave, and true

We need not fret, you need not fear

And so we come to why you're here

The torch committee now confirms

The truth of rumors lately heard

That there come monsters in our midst

Well-disguised and carefully hid

Anywhere and anyone

The root of every evil done

But you will help us root them out

The torch committee has no doubt

We see your hands and legs are tied

In clearest breach of by-law five

And left here in this little room

In clearest breach of by-law two

And though you know that we take pains

The process of the law remains

All technicalities aside

You'll see our hands are also tied

For us, the job brings only pain

To see you naked in these chains

To see you naked where you stand

Where so many others have

Imagine how it feels each day

To send so many men a way

But see we've got a job and we

Must dot each "i" and cross each "t"

Something's horribly amiss

How else could you be on our list

Still we all know directive twelve

All those so named must prove themselves

To hungry mob and angry crowd

Young men making families proud

By means not meant for light of day

We wish there was a softer way

Wait, suppose that we untie

Your hands to sign upon this line

To pledge that you have always been

A patriot and citizen

Please ignore the legalese

Lawyers are my right now see

Why we're so happy that you came

Appendix three and list of names

Pardon us but we can't help

But laugh, if you could see yourself

Relax, it's always strange to see

The names on each appendix three

Brothers, fathers, sons, and wives

The ones with whom you've shared your life

Mothers, daughters, sisters, friends

Patriots and citizens

Children playing in the street

Strangers whom you chance to meet

The god to whom you chance to pray

The girl with whom you choose to stay

We know the monsters, know their names

By which they go and which they've changed

And every whisper that we've heard

We've read their poison, every word

How we wish that we could say

That each of them will walk away

But sadly it's the awful truth

It's them or us, it's them or you

So put your finger to the names

The only cure for fear is blame

In doing so, you're doing good

There's many called who never would

Who stuck by what they thought was right

Who disappeared by dark of night

Who disappeared into the breeze

Left no family left to grieve

There, now see, that wasn't bad

As you leave, you can be glad

That you have done your little part

To fight the monsters in the dark

But have a care, the night is cold

Take a torch before you go

And we will keep you safe and warm

That's what the torch committee is for