Whom Should Poets Sing ?
Not Poland—land of bravery,1
Crush’d into death and slavery,2
By Russ’ brute force and knavery—3
Not her we sing.4
Nor Italy, the sleeper,5
Whom th’ Austrians, her keeper,6
Treads into earth yet deeper :7
(Yet shall she spring—8
And from her bosom hoary,9
The proudest leaf of story,10
The light of her old glory,11
Abroad she’ll fling.)12
Nor Germany, the dreamer,13
Prey of each tyrant schemer,14
The spirit to redeem her,15
Comes on slow wing.16
Nor France, the gallant-hearted,17
Who for the guerdon started,18
And with her life-blood parted—19
For what ? A King.20
No ! but the strong endeavour,21
The spirit’s quenchless fever,22
That keeps men free for ever—23
’Tis what we sing !24
To breasts of calmest bearing,25
All undismayed, and wearing26
The pride no slave can share in,27
Our songs we bring.28
The undaunted eye that gazes29
Where gaudy splendour blazes,30
And with the glance it raises,31
Smites the base thing !32
The Man in labour steady,33
In patriot warfare ready34
His heart’s best blood to shed—He35
Claims the songs we bring !36