The old, old dream of empire—the dream of Alexander and Cæsar, of Tamerlane and Genghis Khan; The dream of subject peoples carrying out our sovereign will through fear: The dream of a universe forced to converge upon us; The dream of pride and loftiness justified by strength of arms; The dream of our arbitrary "Yea" overcoming all "Nays" whatsoever; The dream of a cold, stern, hated machine of empire! But there is a more enticing dream: the dream of wise freedom made contagious; The dream of gratitude rising from broken fetters; The dream of coercion laid prostrate once for all; The dream of nations in love with each other, without a thought of hatred or danger; The dream of tyrants stripped of their tyrannies, and oppressors despoiled of their prey; The dream of a warm, throbbing, one-hearted empire of brothers! II Clear the field for the grand tournament of the nations! The struggle to think the best thought, and to express it, in tone and color and form and word; The struggle to do the greatest deeds, and lead the noblest and most useful lives; The struggle to see clearest and know truest and love strongest. Your other blood and bludgeon contests but postpone the real fray. The true knights are yearning to enter the lists, and you block the high festival with your brawling. Is it possible you mistake this for the real event of history? Away with your brutal disorder, and clear the field for the tournament of Man. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VIGNETTES OVERSEAS: 11. HAMBURG by SARA TEASDALE KATHLEEN O'MORE by GEORGE NUGENT REYNOLDS IN MEMORIAM A.H.H.: 54 by ALFRED TENNYSON THE SHEEPHERD by JOSEPH BEAUMONT DEATH by STOPFORD AUGUSTUS BROOKE A SONG OF LIFE by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON LINES ON HEARING THAT LADY BYRON WAS ILL by GEORGE GORDON BYRON |