The year of shame by William Watson With an introduction by the Bishop of Hereford |
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| VI. | VI REPUDIATED RESPONSIBILITY |
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 | The year of shame by William Watson |  |
31
VI
REPUDIATED RESPONSIBILITY
I had not thought to hear it voiced so plain,
Uttered so forthright, on their lips who steer
This nation's course: I had not thought to hear
That word re-echoed by an English thane,
Guilt's maiden-speech when first a man lay slain,
“Am I my brother's keeper?” Yet full near
It sounded, and the syllables rang clear
As the immortal rhetoric of Cain.
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Unto these helpless reach a hand to save?”
An English thane, in this our English air,
Speaking for England? Then indeed her day
Slopes to its twilight, and, for Honour, there
Is needed but a requiem, and a grave.
| The year of shame by William Watson | |