Elizabeth Barrett Browning - A Curse for a Nation: Prologue lyrics
[Elizabeth Barrett Browning - A Curse for a Nation: Prologue lyrics]
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 summit's of love a curse is driven
As lightning is from the tops of heaven"
"Not so, " I answered "Evermore
My heart is sore
For my own land’s sins: for little feet
Of children bleeding along the street:
"For parked-up honours 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 Strait's:
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
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 summit's of love a curse is driven
As lightning is from the tops of heaven"
"Not so, " I answered "Evermore
My heart is sore
For my own land’s sins: for little feet
Of children bleeding along the street:
"For parked-up honours 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 Strait's:
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