James Oppenheim – Immoral

I keep walking around myself, mouth open with amazement: For by all the ethical rules of life, I ought to be solemn and sad, But, look you, I am bursting with joy. I scold myself: I say: Boy, your work has gone to pot: You have scarcely enough money to last out the...

James Oppenheim – Bread and Roses

As we go marching, marching, in the beauty of the day, A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts gray, Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses, For the people hear us singing: Bread and Roses! Bread and Roses! As we go marching, marching,...

James Oppenheim – The Slave

They set the slave free, striking off his chains… Then he was as much of a slave as ever. He was still chained to servility, He was still manacled to indolence and sloth, He was still bound by fear and superstition, By ignorance, suspicion, and savagery… His slavery...

James Oppenheim – The Runner In The Skies

Who is the runner in the skies, With her blowing scarf of stars, And our Earth and sun hovering like bees about her blossoming heart? Her feet are on the winds, where space is deep, Her eyes are nebulous and veiled, She hurries through the night to a far lover....

James Oppenheim – The New God

Ye morning-glories, ring in the gale your bells, And with dew water the walk's dust for the burden-bearing ants: Ye swinging spears of the larkspur, open your wells of gold And pay your honey-tax to the hummingbird . . . O now I see by the opening of blossoms, And...

James Oppenheim – Where Love Once Was

Where love once was, let there be no hate: Though they that went as one by night and day Go now alone, Where love once was, let there be no hate. The seeds we planted together Came to rich harvest, And our hearts are as bins brimming with the golden plenty: Into...

James Oppenheim – The Lincoln-Child

Clearing in the forest, In the wild Kentucky forest, And the stars, wintry stars strewn above! O Night that is the starriest Since Earth began to roll— For a Soul Is born out of Love! Mother love, father love, love of Eternal God— Stars have pushed aside to let him...

James Oppenheim – Assurance

Yea, there are as many stars under the Earth as over the Earth... Plenty of room to roll around in has our planet... And I, at the edge of the porch, Hearing the crickets shrill in the star-thick armies of grass, And beholding over the spread of Earth the spread of the...

James Oppenheim – Tasting the Earth

In a dark hour, tasting the Earth. As I lay on my couch in the muffled night, and the rain lashed at my window, And my forsaken heart would give me no rest, no pause and no peace, Though I turned my face far from the wailing of my bereavement... Then I said: I will...