Ezra Pound

From “Contemporania”
Once … the round world brimmed with hate,
… … … and the strong
Harried the weak. Long past, long past, praise God,
In these fair, peaceful, happy days.
A Contemporary

O SMOOTH flatterers, go over sea,

go to my country;

Tell her she is “Mighty among the nations”—

do it rhetorically!

Say there are no oppressions,

Say it is a time of peace,

Say that labor is pleasant,

Say there are no oppressions,

Speak of the American virtues:

And you will not lack your reward.

Say that the keepers of shops pay a fair wage to the women:

Say that all men are honest and desirous of good above all things:

You will not lack your reward.

Say that I am a traitor and a cynic,

Say that the art is well served by the ignorant pretenders:

You will not lack your reward.

Praise them that are praised by the many:

You will not lack your reward.

Call this a time of peace,

Speak well of amateur harlots,

Speak well of disguised procurers,

Speak well of shop-walkers,

Speak well of employers of women,

Speak well of exploiters,

Speak well of the men in control,

Speak well of popular preachers:

You will not lack your reward.

Speak of the profundity of reviewers,

Speak of the accuracy of reporters,

Speak of the unbiased press,

Speak of the square deal as if it always occurred.

Do all this and refrain from ironic touches:

You will not lack your reward.

Speak of the open-mindedness of scholars:

You will not lack your reward.

Say that you love your fellow men,

O most magnanimous liar!

You will not lack your reward.

Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD