My name is Ramilda, I’ve not got much time
So please listen closely and hear out my rhyme
I’ve come from a nation unheard of by you
And bear on my conscience some terrible news
First, you must know, all is not what it seems
I can see in your eyes you’re not all that keen
To hear of my tale, but please let me speak
In a couple short minutes, your interest I’ll pique
There’s a whole race of men living under the roads
Their beds are the sewers, their Gods are the toads
They have no true name, though some call them “the rovers”
They’re a nocturnal people who wander all over
They feed on the filth and the grime and the muck
That falls to the gutters off trollies and trucks
In darkness they toil, setting cables and pipes
They wire the wires which light up your lights
The jobs no one wants are the ones that they do
De-greasing old engines and screwing in screws
In pennies they’re paid and in dollar’s they’re taxed
They can hardly afford to buy hand-me-down slacks
You must still be wondering “Why are you here?”
Because, patient stranger, you’ve reason to fear
I’m sure that to your ears “the rovers” are new
I promise, my friend, they have heard about you
The people and toads have been getting upset
It’s justice they want and it’s justice they’ll get
They’re sick of the filth and the muck and the grime
They’re gathering, planning, and biding their time
I’ve been ‘neath the streets and these people I’ve seen
They’re strong, with big arms, and they’re terribly mean
I warn you, pedestrian, should they rebel
They’ll rise from below and will make your life hell
You’ve got just two options, according to me
You can round up your wares and your family and flee
Or stay where you are, and prepare for a change
For living with rovers above ground is strange
You must treat them kindly and offer them milk
They won’t ask for treasures like silver or silk
Fair treatment and rights are the bounty they want
Plus minimum wage and a fair workers’ comp
Though you’ve never seen them, these rights they have earned
My goal was to teach you, I hope that you learned
Enough from my ramble to know what will come
When the rovers resurface in search of the sun