 | Voices and visions |  |
I
CHORUS OF UNTHINKING TOILERS
Through years and years,
Fate's living jeers,
We've soaked our blood in bread and tears.
What wonder now
If bold of brow
Its nauseous vileness we avow?
Fate's living jeers,
We've soaked our blood in bread and tears.
What wonder now
If bold of brow
Its nauseous vileness we avow?
Go, search the spots
Where squalor squats,
Custodian of our loathsome lots;
Then dare to blame
The frenzied shame
That riotous in revolt would flame.
Where squalor squats,
Custodian of our loathsome lots;
Then dare to blame
The frenzied shame
That riotous in revolt would flame.
Then dare to tell
If life may dwell
This side the grave in ghastlier hell;
Then dare to speak,
Ye rich and sleek,
Of tolerance that should make us meek.
If life may dwell
This side the grave in ghastlier hell;
Then dare to speak,
Ye rich and sleek,
Of tolerance that should make us meek.
94
From dens of slums
Our chorus comes,
From penury's pale martyrdoms.
To judge us fair
Would be to share
The abysmal deeps of our despair.
Our chorus comes,
From penury's pale martyrdoms.
To judge us fair
Would be to share
The abysmal deeps of our despair.
We, reared in dearth,
Dull rabble of earth,
Were branded prisoners at our birth.
To each befell,
As each learned well,
The heirloom of a dungeon cell.
Dull rabble of earth,
Were branded prisoners at our birth.
To each befell,
As each learned well,
The heirloom of a dungeon cell.
On each the curse
Was wreaked adverse
Of ragged beggary for his nurse;
To each the cheer
Of want's chill sneer
Became his cradle and swaddling-gear.
Was wreaked adverse
Of ragged beggary for his nurse;
To each the cheer
Of want's chill sneer
Became his cradle and swaddling-gear.
While new suns rise,
Our roaming eyes
Glare haggard at the unaidful skies.
While new suns fade
Our worn feet wade
Through rubble and slush whose filths degrade.
Our roaming eyes
Glare haggard at the unaidful skies.
While new suns fade
Our worn feet wade
Through rubble and slush whose filths degrade.
No more we heed,
In our strong need,
Mild-murmuring patience if she plead;
With maxims wise
In vain she sighs
For suffering to philosophise.
In our strong need,
Mild-murmuring patience if she plead;
95
In vain she sighs
For suffering to philosophise.
Nay, is it strange
Our fancies range
Through visions of volcanic change?
Or that intrigue
Would vengeance league
To attest our terrible fatigue?
Our fancies range
Through visions of volcanic change?
Or that intrigue
Would vengeance league
To attest our terrible fatigue?
Shrewd tongues may prate
That this hot hate
Its mad self would annihilate;
Yet captive pain
At least would gain
Some transient shattering of its chain.
That this hot hate
Its mad self would annihilate;
Yet captive pain
At least would gain
Some transient shattering of its chain.
Ah, sweet to stray
Through frantic fray
For even one red tempestuous day!
Ah, sweet to shower,
For one wild hour,
The slaves' wrath on the despot's power!
Through frantic fray
For even one red tempestuous day!
Ah, sweet to shower,
For one wild hour,
The slaves' wrath on the despot's power!
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