If it's worth the penny you'll give for my thoughts,

I will be willing to state a small truth.

To apply a censor is an awful lot

more harmful than words that are uncouth.

A word said is a word expressed,

And words feel restrained

When you force them into Sunday best.

Language then besomes pained.

I'm a person of no great fame

But the point must be made,

If you think politeness and forced silence are the same,

Then you're the type who thinks oranges make lemonade.

The sense of a censor is little, I say,

And for all that it could be worth,

I think it's a very bleak day

When spoken words die in birth.