Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


HAUPTMANN by PERCY MACKAYE

First Line: JEAN CHRISTOPHE CALLED TO HIM OUT OF THE NIGHT
Last Line: FALL CRUMBLING ON THE BEACONLESS WORLD SHORE.
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.



Home: PoetryExplorer.net