---

Elizabeth Barrett Browning - A Curse For A Nation
Work rating: Medium

	Prologue

	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 driven,
	As lightning is from the tops of heaven."

	"Not so," I answered. "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.

	The Curse

	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.
Source
The script ran 0.002 seconds.