The little peoples of the troubled earth, The little nations that are weak and white; -- For them the glory of another birth, For them the lifting of the veil of night. The big men of the world in concert met, Have sent forth in their power a new decree: Upon the old harsh wrongs the sun must set, Henceforth the little peoples must be free! But we, the blacks, less than the trampled dust, Who walk the new ways with the old dim eyes, -- We to the ancient gods of greed and lust Must still be offered up as sacrifice: Oh, we who deign to live but will not dare, The white world's burden must forever bear! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE STATUE AND THE BUST by ROBERT BROWNING ON DIGITAL EXTREMITIES by FRANK GELETT BURGESS GOD by GABRIEL ROMANOVITCH DERZHAVIN A MODEST WIT by SELLECK OSBORNE THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 34. THE DARK GLASS by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI RECOLLECTIONS OF THE ARABIAN NIGHTS by ALFRED TENNYSON THE MAY QUEEN by ALFRED TENNYSON |