Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SONG AGAINST NIPPON: TO HIRAM JOHNSON, by GEORGE SYLVESTER VIERECK Poet's Biography First Line: Hail, dauntless leader stout of heart Last Line: We are the paladins of god! Subject(s): Japan; Johnson, Hiram Warren (1866-1945); Japanese | ||||||||
HAIL, dauntless leader stout of heart, Stern guardian of the White God's rule! Abroad -- from Nippon's wily art, At home -- from craven lout and fool! Though Asia's squadrons wax by sevens, Our boards shall never spread their feast, These mirthless sons of godless heavens, Grim vanguards of the swarming East! Upon our heritage of pains Their heavy sins shall not be hurled, Their stunted trees and stunted brains, The burden of their Yellow World. What of their kinsmen wont to roam The earth upon the steeds of hell? They were God's Scourge! Before them Rome Quaked, and her holy altars fell. But Attila is dead! And he Would not be bold to tempt his fate And lead their hosts across the sea, While California holds the Gate! And while Christ's sunrise crowns His morn, While we have arms to spike their guns, We laugh their Shogun threats to scorn, We shall not cringe before these Huns! We have one destiny; in them The Forty-Seven Ronins dwell; Not theirs the star of Bethlehem, Not theirs the White Man's Citadel! For yellow toil the yellow dross, But not an inch of native sod! Above the flag we plant the Cross, We are the paladins of God! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CHOMEI AT TOYAMA by BASIL BUNTING SONG: SO OFTEN, SO LONG I HAVE THOUGHT by HAYDEN CARRUTH A MONTH IN SUMMER by CAROLYN KIZER TWO JAPANESE POEMS by WILLIAM MEREDITH KEEP DRIVING by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE WATERLILIES AND JAPANESE BRIDGE by ALICIA SUSKIN OSTRIKER A WALKAROUND, FOR NEKO; KAMAKURA 11/10/96 by JEROME ROTHENBERG AT TSUKIJI MARKET TOKYO: 1 by JEROME ROTHENBERG A BALLAD OF ST. VITUS by GEORGE SYLVESTER VIERECK |
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