Upton Sinclair, ed. (1878–1968).
The Cry for Justice: An Anthology of the Literature of Social Protest. 1915. | | | Lazarus
(From the London “Spectator”) |
Anonymous |
| | | STILL he lingers, where wealth and fashion | |
| Meet together to dine or play— | |
| Lingers, a matter of vague compassion, | |
| Out in the darkness across the way; | |
| Out beyond the warmth and the glitter, | 5 |
| The light where luxury’s laughter rings, | |
| Lazarus waits, where the wind is bitter, | |
| Receiving his evil things. | |
| |
| Still ye find him when, breathless, burning, | |
| Summer flames upon square and street, | 10 |
| When the fortunate ones of the earth are turning | |
| Their thoughts to meadows and meadow-sweet; | |
| Far away from the wide green valley, | |
| The bramble patch where the white-throat sings, | |
| Lazarus sweats in his crowded alley, | 15 |
| Receiving his evil things.… | |
| |
| In the name of Knowledge the race grows healthier, | |
| In the name of Freedom the world grows great; | |
| And men are wiser, and men are wealthier, | |
| But—Lazarus lies at the rich man’s gate. | 20 |
| Lies as he lay through human history, | |
| Fame of heroes and pomp of kings, | |
| At the rich man’s gate, an abiding mystery, | |
| Receiving his evil things. | | | | |
|
|
