John ShaqiResearch Library

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The Cry for Justice: An Anthology of the Literature of Social Protest: The writings of philosophers, poets, novelists, social reformers, and others who have voiced the struggle against social injustice; selected from twenty-five languages; covering a period of five thousand years

General

The Cry for Justice: An Anthology of the Literature of Social Protest: The writings of philosophers, poets, novelists, social reformers, and others who have voiced the struggle against social injustice; selected from twenty-five languages; covering a period of five thousand years

Social justice; Social problems

In the glimmering twilight the fierce eyes of the bearded one
rested upon the wanderer.

"Have you seen enough?"

"Enough! God knows."

"So at last you understand the meaning of it all!"

"Not yet!" And from the depth of his being there flashed the
demand, "Why have you shown me the sore surface of life? What
have you to do with it? And what have I?"

His guide replied, "So you still long for the smooth paths
of prosperity? You would like to shield your eyes from the
disagreeable aspects of a world that is good to you? You would
still have your comfort and your heart's desire? Your ambitious
fancy still turns to the daughter of privilege, dainty and
lovely and sweet to the eyes?"

       *       *       *       *       *

(The young man returns to the rich woman whom he had meant to
marry.)

He knelt and taking the hem of her garment held it in his hands.

"See!" He crushed the soft fabric in his hand. "Silk with
thread of gold. It is the tears! See!" He touched her girdle
with his hands. "Gold and precious stones. They are the groans!
See!" He put his fingers upon the golden hair. "A wreath of
pure gold! Tears and groans and bloody sweat! You are a tissue
of the lives of others, from feet to the crown upon your
hair.... See!" His hot hands crushed the orchids at her breast.
"Even the flower at your breast is stained with blood.... I see
the tears of others on your robe. I hear their sighs in your
voice. I see defeated desires in the light of your eyes. You
are the Sacrifice of the many--I cannot touch!"


Isabella, or The Pot of Basil

BY JOHN KEATS

(One of the loveliest of English poets, 1795-1821; a chemist's
assistant, who lived unrecognized and died despairing)

    With her two brothers this fair lady dwelt,
      Enrichèd from ancestral merchandise,
    And for them many a weary hand did swelt
      In torchèd mines and noisy factories,
    And many once proud-quiver'd loins did melt
      In blood from stinging whip,--with hollow eyes
    Many all day in dazzling river stood,
    To take the rich-ored driftings of the flood.

    For them the Ceylon diver held his breath,
      And went all naked to the hungry shark;
    For them his ears gushed blood; for them in death
      The seal on the cold ice with piteous bark
    Lay full of darts; for them alone did seethe
      A thousand men in troubles wide and dark;
    Half-ignorant, they turn'd an easy wheel,
    That set sharp wracks at work, to pinch and peel.


The Sons of Martha

BY RUDYARD KIPLING

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

General

The Cry for Justice: An Anthology of the Literature of Social Protest: The writings of philosophers, poets, novelists, social reformers, and others who have voiced the struggle against social injustice; selected from twenty-five languages; covering a period of five thousand years

Social justice; Social problems

In the glimmering twilight the fierce eyes of the bearded one
rested upon the wanderer.

"Have you seen enough?"

"Enough! God knows."

"So at last you understand the meaning of it all!"

"Not yet!" And from the depth of his being there flashed the
demand, "Why have you shown me the sore surface of life? What
have you to do with it? And what have I?"

His guide replied, "So you still long for the smooth paths
of prosperity? You would like to shield your eyes from the
disagreeable aspects of a world that is good to you? You would
still have your comfort and your heart's desire? Your ambitious
fancy still turns to the daughter of privilege, dainty and
lovely and sweet to the eyes?"

       *       *       *       *       *

(The young man returns to the rich woman whom he had meant to
marry.)

He knelt and taking the hem of her garment held it in his hands.

"See!" He crushed the soft fabric in his hand. "Silk with
thread of gold. It is the tears! See!" He touched her girdle
with his hands. "Gold and precious stones. They are the groans!
See!" He put his fingers upon the golden hair. "A wreath of
pure gold! Tears and groans and bloody sweat! You are a tissue
of the lives of others, from feet to the crown upon your
hair.... See!" His hot hands crushed the orchids at her breast.
"Even the flower at your breast is stained with blood.... I see
the tears of others on your robe. I hear their sighs in your
voice. I see defeated desires in the light of your eyes. You
are the Sacrifice of the many--I cannot touch!"


Isabella, or The Pot of Basil

BY JOHN KEATS

(One of the loveliest of English poets, 1795-1821; a chemist's
assistant, who lived unrecognized and died despairing)

    With her two brothers this fair lady dwelt,
      Enrichèd from ancestral merchandise,
    And for them many a weary hand did swelt
      In torchèd mines and noisy factories,
    And many once proud-quiver'd loins did melt
      In blood from stinging whip,--with hollow eyes
    Many all day in dazzling river stood,
    To take the rich-ored driftings of the flood.

    For them the Ceylon diver held his breath,
      And went all naked to the hungry shark;
    For them his ears gushed blood; for them in death
      The seal on the cold ice with piteous bark
    Lay full of darts; for them alone did seethe
      A thousand men in troubles wide and dark;
    Half-ignorant, they turn'd an easy wheel,
    That set sharp wracks at work, to pinch and peel.


The Sons of Martha

BY RUDYARD KIPLING

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Cry for Justice: An Anthology of the Literature of Social Protest: The writings of philosophers, poets, novelists, social reformers, and others who have voiced the struggle against social injustice; selected from twenty-five languages; covering a period of five thousand years

The Cry for Justice: An Anthology of the Literature of Social Protest: The writings of philosophers, poets, novelists, social reformers, and others who have voiced the struggle against social injustice; selected from twenty-five languages; covering a period of five thousand years

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