Bread and Roses
av James Oppenheim
The American Magazine 73 (desember 1911)
"Bread for all, and Roses, too" - a slogan of the women of the West
As we come 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 come marching, marching, we battle, too, for men -
For they are women's children, and we mother them again.
Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes -
Hearts starve as well as bodies: Give us Bread, but give us Roses.
As we come marching, marching, unnumbered women dead
Go crying through our singing their ancient song of Bread;
Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew -
Yes, it is bread we fight for - but we fight for Roses, too.
As we come marching, marching, we bring the Greater Days -
The rising of the women means the rising of the race -
No more the drudge and idler - ten that toil where one reposes -
But a sharing of life's glories: Bread and Roses, Bread and Roses.
Les meir om dette diktet og om slagordet Brød og roser her.