Stealing the commons

_The law locks up the man or woman

Who steals the goose off the common

But leaves the greater villain loose

Who steals the common from the goose._

_The law demands that we atone

When we take things we do not own

But leaves the lords and ladies fine

Who takes things that are yours and mine._

_The poor and wretched don’t escape

If they conspire the law to break;

This must be so but they endure

Those who conspire to make the law._

_The law locks up the man or woman

Who steals the goose from off the common

And geese will still a common lack

Till they go and steal it back._

_-_17th century folk poem (via)