Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, UNITED STATES, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

UNITED STATES, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: United -- for what? To extort and oppress?
Last Line: Our brotherly united states.
Subject(s): United States; America


United -- for what? To extort and oppress?
To fatten Big Business and worship the dollar?
To coin the need of a world in distress?
To rail at the preacher and scoff at the scholar?
United -- to fill up a plundering bag,
To mock at the ages and grasp at the minute?
To haggle and cozen, to bluster and brag,
And juggle with honor for what there is in it?
Forbid it, wise and kindly Fates!
Not thus are we United States.

United -- ah, brothers! united for what?
To set up a buzzard in place of an eagle?
Unkindly to hover and craftily plot,
The smaller to snare and the weak to inveigle?
United -- to conquer the rest of the world?
In fetters of golden dominion to bind them,
Our banner of glory disgracefully furled,
And liberty's light only shining to blind them?
Pray God that no such doom awaits
To damn these fair United States.

United -- ah, thus we interpret the name --
United for freedom's unbounded extension,
For progress united, for knowledge aflame,
For permanent peace and the end of contention.
United for brotherhood wide as the earth,
For brotherly sacrifice, brotherly caring,
United to purchase the infinite worth,
United for manly and generous daring.
Be this the future that awaits
Our brotherly United States.





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