"The Worm of Greed, the fatted Worm of Ease"

[nostamj]

this poem is quoted by Robert Byrd in his (so far) EXCELLENT book, "Losing America" - a real insider's look at the filthy work of the bushies... the man does not hold his tongue!


I Fear For Thee, My Country

I fear the vermin that shall undermiine
Senate and citadel and school and shrine--
The Worm of Greed, the fatted Worm of Ease,
And all the crawling progeny of these--
The vermin that shall honeycomb the towers
And walls of State in unsuspecting hours.

- Edwin Markham

It's not clear if this is the full text and a google search came up with only other attempts to locate the complete poem. If you have it. Please post.

MARKHAM, EDWIN. Born in Oregon City, Oregon, April 23, 1852; . Removed at an early age to California, where his childhood was spent upon a ranch in herding sheep and riding the ranges after the cattle. During his boyhood he attended school but three months in the year, but later studied at San José Normal School and the University of California. After leaving the University, Mr. Markham became a teacher in California and was principal and superintendent of several schools until 1899, when he sprang suddenly into fame by the publication in the "San Francisco Examiner" of his poem "The Man With the Hoe." This poem, crystallizing as it did the spirit of the time, and emphasizing one's obligation to Society, became the impulse of the whole social movement in poetry, a movement which largely prevailed during the early years of the twentieth century. After the great success of "The Man With the Hoe," Mr. Markham removed from California to New York City, where he continued to engage in literary work.

[nostamj]

1. .

[KlatooBNikto]

2. Amazing .Thanks for posting.

[supernova]

3. Beautiful verse

I too would like to find the whole poem.

I've found several biographies of Edwin Markham, and allusions to apparently better-known works, but not this poem.

[Owlet]

4. It's been deleted from the literature...

...per order of the Attorney General under the sedition provisions of the Patriot Act.

[nostamj]

5. well, maybe the SENATOR has the full text

will have to drop him a line...

[Owlet]

6. Another apropo verse from a Markham poem

The Man With the Hoe
http://www.theotherpages.org/poems/mark01.html



O masters, lords and rulers in all lands,
How will the Future reckon with this man?
How answer his brute question in that hour
When whirlwinds of rebellion shake all shores?
How will it be with kingdoms and with kings--
With those who shaped him to the thing he is--
When this dumb terror shall rise to judge the world,
After the silence of the centuries?

[KlatooBNikto]

7. You and NOSTAMJ have made my day! Many thanks to you both.

[nostamj]

8. wow!

With those who shaped him to the thing he is--

I think I'm going to have to see if he has a book in print...