Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HAUPTMANN, by PERCY MACKAYE


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HAUPTMANN, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Jean christophe called to him out of the night
Last Line: Fall crumbling on the beaconless world shore.
Alternate Author Name(s): Mackaye, Percy Wallace
Subject(s): Racism; War; Racial Prejudice; Bigotry


JEAN CHRISTOPHE called to him out of the night —
Out of the storm and dark of Europe's hate,
Crying: "Where art thou, Hauptmann, who so late
Loomed as a rugged tower of human right?
Flame to the world thy lonely beacon-light
Of love for alien hearths laid desolate!" —
In answer rolled a voice infuriate
Hoarse with the fog of racial scorn and spite:

"Here am I! — Let them perish!" And hell laughed
To hear that voice — which once was wont to soar
With Hannele to heaven, and starward waft
The souls of simple weavers — rasp with war;
Yea, laughed to watch that tower's heroic shaft
Fall crumbling on the beaconless world shore.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net