Classic Poem

Turn now and look your parent in the face—
That face long misled with reverence compelled
Let us revere the truth and not a veil—
Off with it! Let the present lift its head
And see and know and judge the dwindling Past
The garments of tradition hide the shape—
Which we were taught to honor as sublime—
Glory and strength of hallowed Golden Age—
Mythical Heroes merging into gods—
But keen eyed science with is newfound light
Pierces the myths and shows us—O forlorn!—
The low browed savage—and the chinless ape
Smaller than we—and weaker—and less wise—
Slow growing through a thousand senseless sins—
Forced on, reluctant, up historic stairs,
Resisting, holding back, delaying Time
Holding Us back! Trying from age to age
To keep us still delinquent as itself!
To keep the Present subject to the Past!
O blessed light of truth that sets us free—
Free of those chains that drag along the years.
Let us forgive—forget and turn our face
For good and all ahead! And what awaits—
What looms so large—what grows, so fast, ahead—
O love and Pride! The Future's splendid child!