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lirik lagu a curse for a nation - richard mitchley - elizabeth barrett browning

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

- lirik lagu a curse for a nation

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