Upton Sinclair, ed. (1878–1968).
The Cry for Justice: An Anthology of the Literature of Social Protest. 1915. | | | | A Marching Song |
By Algernon Charles Swinburne |
(English poet of nature and liberty, 1837–1909) |
| | | WE mix from many lands, | |
| We march for very far; | |
| In hearts and lips and hands | |
| Our staffs and weapons are; | |
| The light we walk in darkens sun and moon and star. | 5 |
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| It doth not flame and wane | |
| With years and spheres that roll, | |
| Storm cannot shake nor stain | |
| The strength that makes it whole, | |
| The fire that moulds and moves it of the sovereign soul.… | 10 |
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| From the edge of harsh derision, | |
| From discord and defeat, | |
| From doubt and lame division, | |
| We pluck the fruit and eat; | |
| And the mouth finds it bitter, and the spirit sweet.… | 15 |
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| O nations undivided, | |
| O single people and free, | |
| We dreamers, we derided, | |
| We mad blind men that see, | |
| We bear you witness ere ye come that ye shall be. | 20 |
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| Ye sitting among tombs, | |
| Ye standing round the gate, | |
| Whom fire-mouthed war consumes, | |
| Or cold-lipped peace bids wait, | |
| All tombs and bars shall open, every grave and grate.… | 25 |
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| O sorrowing hearts of slaves, | |
| We heard you beat from far! | |
| We bring the light that saves, | |
| We bring the morning star; | |
| Freedom’s good things we bring you, whence all good things are.… | 30 |
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| Rise, ere the dawn be risen; | |
| Come, and be all souls fed; | |
| From field and street and prison | |
| Come, for the feast is spread; | |
| Live, for the truth is living; wake, for night is dead. | 35 | | | |
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