Upton Sinclair, ed. (1878–1968).
The Cry for Justice: An Anthology of the Literature of Social Protest. 1915. | | | | Despair |
By Lady Wilde |
(Irish poetess, mother of Oscar Wilde; wrote under the pen-name of Speranza) |
| | | BEFORE us dies our brother, of starvation; | |
| Around are cries of famine and despair! | |
| Where is hope for us, or comfort or salvation— | |
| Where—oh! where? | |
| If the angels ever hearken, downward bending, | 5 |
| They are weeping, we are sure, | |
| At the litanies of human groans ascending | |
| From the crushed hearts of the poor. | |
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| We never knew a childhood’s mirth and gladness, | |
| Nor the proud heart of youth free and brave; | 10 |
| Oh, a death-like dream of wretchedness and sadness | |
| Is life’s weary journey to the grave! | |
| Day by day we lower sink, and lower, | |
| Till the God-like soul within | |
| Falls crushed beneath the fearful demon power | 15 |
| Of poverty and sin. | |
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| So we toil on, on with fever burning | |
| In heart and brain; | |
| So we toil on, on through bitter scorning | |
| Want, woe, and pain. | 20 |
| We dare not raise our eyes to the blue heavens | |
| Or the toil must cease— | |
| We dare not breathe the fresh air God has given | |
| One hour in peace. | | | | |
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