| |
From “Contemporania” | | Once … the round world brimmed with hate, |
| … … … and the strong |
| Harried the weak. Long past, long past, praise God, |
| In these fair, peaceful, happy days. |
| A Contemporary |
O SMOOTH flatterers, go over sea, | |
| go to my country; | |
| Tell her she is “Mighty among the nations”— | |
| do it rhetorically! | |
| |
| Say there are no oppressions, | 5 |
| Say it is a time of peace, | |
| Say that labor is pleasant, | |
| Say there are no oppressions, | |
| Speak of the American virtues: | |
| And you will not lack your reward. | 10 |
| |
| Say that the keepers of shops pay a fair wage to the women: | |
| Say that all men are honest and desirous of good above all things: | |
| You will not lack your reward. | |
| |
| Say that I am a traitor and a cynic, | |
| Say that the art is well served by the ignorant pretenders: | 15 |
| You will not lack your reward. | |
| |
| Praise them that are praised by the many: | |
| You will not lack your reward. | |
| |
| Call this a time of peace, | |
| Speak well of amateur harlots, | 20 |
| Speak well of disguised procurers, | |
| Speak well of shop-walkers, | |
| Speak well of employers of women, | |
| Speak well of exploiters, | |
| Speak well of the men in control, | 25 |
| Speak well of popular preachers: | |
| You will not lack your reward. | |
| |
| Speak of the profundity of reviewers, | |
| Speak of the accuracy of reporters, | |
| Speak of the unbiased press, | 30 |
| Speak of the square deal as if it always occurred. | |
| Do all this and refrain from ironic touches: | |
| You will not lack your reward. | |
| |
| Speak of the open-mindedness of scholars: | |
| You will not lack your reward. | 35 |
| |
| Say that you love your fellow men, | |
| O most magnanimous liar! | |
| You will not lack your reward. | |
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