The Nations
Listen, ye men who study the rise and
fall of nations,
listen first o my children, builders
of tomorrow: know
the force that built these walls, the
force that will tear
them stone by stone, unless you
listen how nations are born.
What lies in man’s heart shall be the
drama of stately court,
both good that crowns the faithful
spirit, and evil that seeks
to chain soul with flesh: so too in
each nation two traits
reside, to move it back or forward in
staggered direction.
Consider America, the reigning queen,
how her mind
and hand are split between the
destiny she does not
question, and obsession over race.
She rules the world
but thinks not so, bravery with
brazen act perverting.
Poland! What the bard spoke stands as
firm today as
seven generations ago: peacock and
parrot you are,
with pride begging prestige and honor
of disinterested
West, while weaving world for self
from long-gone past.
China, once unamused empress, now you
pleasure dance
for the rest! Such noble heritage
forgotten for a pence,
forgotten for piece of bread. And
though power draws
back into limb, the victim scar is
there for world to see.
Russia first to touch the stars! No
other but the Tsar
can grip hold over Moscow’s spires
and tundra waste.
Though you will ache for Roman rule,
freedom proves
a heavy burden for you, and you
welcome back the yoke.
What of the rest? What of Islam, of
France, of Britain?
Of Africa’s children and Inca
descent? The whole of
Hindustan by religion and poverty is
bound, but these
in all are found: lust for power,
thirst for money, the
poor that cry for bread with force.
Such is yet the heart.
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