Summary of "Song" by Alexander McLachlan .

                                            Alexander McLachlan, a Scottish born Canadian poet is known for his Scots dialect poetry.He is popularly known as the 'The Canadian Robert Burns'.Born in Scotland he moved to Canada as an apprentice.Much of his works reflect the homesickness of Scot immigrants.This poem"The Song" is taken from his poetry "Poems and Songs"[1871].This poem is about his decaying mother country - The England.
                                             In the first stanza, the poet says that the old England is gradually corroded by the brutes just like a carcass being nibbled by the maggots.He adds that she[England] is still good at her heart i.e her ideals aren't still corrupted.He wishes that she shouldn't be the mother of slaves,by saying this he intends to convey the fact that his present residence[Canada] is colonized by the British and the natives in the colonies are treated as slaves.He doesn't want England to be victimized of enmity by her very own colonies.
                                            The poet begins the second stanza by saying that he loves England and it's people.Yet,he ran away from both of them.He justifies his action of fleeing to Canada by saying that who would remain in such a wretched place.He further substantiates his reason by comparing England to a broth i.e too many people fight among themselves to take control over England just like too many spoons clattering among themselves to take the broth.This reminds us of the saying "Too many cooks spoil the broth".Thus it is evident that the poet wants to say that England is being spoiled by it's authorities.
                                           In the following three stanzas Alexander reveals the brutal authority imposed on the public by the government prerogatives.Firstly he talks of the squires[position
:below knights and above gentlemen] who banish the poor for petty reasons.When he is questioned for his cruelty, without a tinge of  shame he answers that God gave him the right to do so.
                                           The poet then portrays the picture of the Chief Justice who feels very high of himself and brags about the merits of the laws.But the justice has two different laws in his wigs - one for the rich and the other for the poor.Thus the poet says that the balance in  the judge's table isn't equally balanced between the rich and the poor.
                                           The poet then reveals the true color of the clergies especially the Bishop. He says that the Bishop preaches God's Gospels, prays for the people and talks about the goodness of the divine beings.But the Bishop demands a great share of the land for whatever he says.
                                            The poet repeats the first stanza to strongly emphasis his thoughts.Thus the poet brings out the sadism of the Squire, the partiality of the Justice and the greediness of the Bishop and their control over England and the serious consequences that would follow.