A Poem for Occupy Oakland (and all other Occupiers)

[Avalux]

The Masque of Anarchy

Stand ye calm and resolute,
Like a forest close and mute,
With folded arms and looks which are
Weapons of unvanquished war.

And if then the tyrants dare,
Let them ride among you there,
Slash, and stab, and maim and hew,
What they like, that let them do.

With folded arms and steady eyes,
And little fear, and less surprise
Look upon them as they slay
Till their rage has died away

Then they will return with shame
To the place from which they came,
And the blood thus shed will speak
In hot blushes on their cheek.

Rise like Lions after slumber
In unvanquishable number,
Shake your chains to earth like dew
Which in sleep had fallen on you-
Ye are many — they are few

- Percy Bysshe Shelley

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[Fire Walk With Me]

1. K&R!

[snagglepuss]

2. It is a little known fact is that the English ruling class during the Victorian era made

a concerted effort to smear Romantic poets like Shelley and Keats because they were deathly afraid of the Romantics and their commitment to radical social reform. With the help of such poets as Tennyson, the ruling elite succeeded beyond their wildest dreams in framing the Romantics as effete, indolent, unpractical "lotus-eaters" when they were anything but, for instance Keats was a well-known for his boxing ability and had a powerful though slight physique and Shelley an outspoken and articulate atheist.


Thank you for posting

[Avalux]

3. You're welcome. I'm surprised my post hasn't had more replies.

It's a great and very timely poem. You're correct on how the Romantics were framed by the ruling class....

[SaveOurDemocracy]

4. Excellent! K&R

[SaveOurDemocracy]

6. wrong place

[BrendaBrick]

5. Thank you for posting this.

[SaveOurDemocracy]

7. KICK...