The patient world through all its cycled years Has borne its human burden, murmuring not— A selfish horde, almost by God forgot— A theme to flood the Universe with tears! From that far distance where there first appears A ray to pierce the dark conglomerate blot Spewed from Creation's maw, the common lot Of man, the creature, changes not nor veers: A current rushing on from naught to naught, Turgid and turbulent, 'twixt narrow banks Of grasping greed and centered self-endeavor; Each drop impregnate with the single thought Of striving till all others it outranks, Blind in its petty Now to vast Forever! II This is the picture painted; this the view Of cynic solons in our halls of State, Venting their venomed envy in debate, Cruel and heartless as a pirate's crew, Shackling the many for the selfish few, Clasping the hasp upon the book of Fate, Seeking the elder Cain to emulate— "Are we our brothers' keepers?" Nay, not you! But the great world is. War has fixed its fangs Just once too often in the human breast, And roused the nations to their sole surcease. Nor shall we fail to heed our brothers' pangs. The serried legions of this glorious West Shall head the vanguard of the hosts of Peace! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE HEART OF THE BRUCE by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN EARTH'S IMMORTALITIES: FAME by ROBERT BROWNING ODE TO TRANQUILLITY by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE IN ANSWER TO MR. POPE by ANNE FINCH IMPRESSION by EDMUND WILLIAM GOSSE CORONATION by HELEN MARIA HUNT FISKE JACKSON THE BRONCHO THAT WOULD NOT BE BROKEN by NICHOLAS VACHEL LINDSAY |