This famous poem, written by Britain’s imperial poet, was a response to the American take over of the Philippines after the Spanish-American War.<\/i><\/p>\n
Take up the White Man’s burden–
\nSend forth the best ye breed–
\nGo bind your sons to exile
\nTo serve your captives’ need;
\nTo wait in heavy harness,
\nOn fluttered folk and wild–
\nYour new-caught, sullen peoples,
\nHalf-devil and half-child.<\/p>\n
Take up the White Man’s burden–
\nIn patience to abide,
\nTo veil the threat of terror
\nAnd check the show of pride;
\nBy open speech and simple,
\nAn hundred times made plain
\nTo seek another’s profit,
\nAnd work another’s gain.<\/p>\n
Take up the White Man’s burden–
\nThe savage wars of peace–
\nFill full the mouth of Famine
\nAnd bid the sickness cease;
\nAnd when your goal is nearest
\nThe end for others sought,
\nWatch sloth and heathen Folly
\nBring all your hopes to nought.<\/p>\n
Take up the White Man’s burden–
\nNo tawdry rule of kings,
\nBut toil of serf and sweeper–
\nThe tale of common things.
\nThe ports ye shall not enter,
\nThe roads ye shall not tread,
\nGo mark them with your living,
\nAnd mark them with your dead.<\/p>\n
Take up the White Man’s burden–
\nAnd reap his old reward:
\nThe blame of those ye better,
\nThe hate of those ye guard–
\nThe cry of hosts ye humour
\n(Ah, slowly!) toward the light:–
\n“Why brought he us from bondage,
\nOur loved Egyptian night?”<\/p>\n
Take up the White Man’s burden–
\nYe dare not stoop to less–
\nNor call too loud on Freedom
\nTo cloke your weariness;
\nBy all ye cry or whisper,
\nBy all ye leave or do,
\nThe silent, sullen peoples
\nShall weigh your gods and you.<\/p>\n
Take up the White Man’s burden–
\nHave done with childish days–
\nThe lightly proferred laurel,
\nThe easy, ungrudged praise.
\nComes now, to search your manhood
\nThrough all the thankless years
\nCold, edged with dear-bought wisdom,
\nThe judgment of your peers!<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t