Elizabeth Barrett Browning - A Curse for a Nation

Lyrics

I heard an angel speak last night And he said "Write! Write a Nation's curse for me And send it over the Western Sea." I faltered, taking up the word: "Not so, my lord! If curses must be, choose another To send thy curse against my brother "For I am bound by gratitude By love and blood To brothers of mine across the sea Who stretch out kindly hands to me." "Therefore," the voice said, "shalt thou write My curse to-night From the summits of love a curse is drivеn As lightning is from the tops of heaven." "Not so," I answеred. "Evermore My heart is sore For my own land's sins: for little feet Of children bleeding along the street: "For parked-up honors that gainsay The right of way: For almsgiving through a door that is Not open enough for two friends to kiss: "For love of freedom which abates Beyond the Straits: For patriot virtue starved to vice on Self-praise, self-interest, and suspicion: "For an oligarchic parliament And bribes well-meant What curse to another land assign When heavy-souled for the sins of mine?" "Therefore," the voice said, "shalt thou write My curse to-night Because thou hast strength to see and hate A foul thing done within thy gate." "Not so," I answered once again "To curse, choose men For I, a woman, have only known How the heart melts and the tears run down." "Therefore," the voice said, "shalt thou write My curse to-night Some women weep and curse, I say (And no one marvels), night and day "And thou shalt take their part to-night Weep and write A curse from the depths of womanhood Is very salt, and bitter, and good." So thus I wrote, and mourned indeed What all may read And thus, as was enjoined on me I send it over the Western Sea Because ye have broken your own chain With the strain Of brave men climbing a Nation's height Yet thence bear down with brand and thong On souls of others, — for this wrong This is the curse. Write Because yourselves are standing straight In the state Of Freedom's foremost acolyte Yet keep calm footing all the time On writhing bond-slaves, — for this crime This is the curse. Write Because ye prosper in God's name With a claim To honor in the old world's sight Yet do the fiend's work perfectly In strangling martyrs, — for this lie This is the curse. Write Ye shall watch while kings conspire Round the people's smouldering fire And, warm for your part Shall never dare — O shame! To utter the thought into flame Which burns at your heart This is the curse. Write Ye shall watch while nations strive With the bloodhounds, die or survive Drop faint from their jaws Or throttle them backward to death; And only under your breath Shall favor the cause This is the curse. Write Ye shall watch while strong men draw The nets of feudal law To strangle the weak; And, counting the sin for a sin Your soul shall be sadder within Than the word ye shall speak This is the curse. Write When good men are praying erect That Christ may avenge His elect And deliver the earth The prayer in your ears, said low Shall sound like the tramp of a foe That's driving you forth This is the curse. Write When wise men give you their praise They shall praise in the heat of the phrase As if carried too far When ye boast your own charters kept true Ye shall blush; for the thing which ye do Derides what ye are This is the curse. Write When fools cast taunts at your gate Your scorn ye shall somewhat abate As ye look o'er the wall; For your conscience, tradition, and name Explode with a deadlier blame Than the worst of them all This is the curse. Write Go, wherever ill deeds shall be done Go, plant your flag in the sun Beside the ill-doers! And recoil from clenching the curse Of God's witnessing Universe With a curse of yours This is the curse. Write