Saturday, October 20, 2007

From Mark Twain's "A Pen Warmed in Hell"

Battle Hymn of the Republic (Brought Down to Date 1900)

Mine eyes have seen the orgy of the launching of the sword;
He is searching out the hoardings where the stranger's wealth is stored;
He hath loosed his fateful lightnings, and with woe and death has scored;
His lust is marching on.

I have seen him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps;
They have builded him an altar in the Eastern dews and damps;
I have read his boomful mission by the dim and flaring lamps--
His night is marching on.

I have read his bandit gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:
"As ye deal with pretensions, so with you my wrath shall deal;
Let the faithless son of Freedom crush the patriot with his heel;
Lo, greed is marching on!"

We have legalized the strumpet and are guarding her retreat;
Greed is seeking out commercial souls befor his judgment seat;
O, be swift, ye clods, to answer him! be jubilant my feet!
Our god is marching on!

In a sorid slime harmonious, Greed was born in yonder ditch,
With a longing in his bosom--and for others' goods an itch--
As Christ died to make men holy, let men die to make us rich--
Our god is marching on. Mark Twain

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