Classic Poem

O human hearts,
——Beating through fear, through jealousy,
——Through pride, through avarice, through bitterness,
Through agony, through death.
——Beating, beating,
——Shame and forgiveness,
——Bewilderment and love,
O my own country,
——My new world,
——Prepare,
——Prepare—
Not to avenge wrong
But to exalt right,
Not to display honor
But to prove humility,
Not to bring wrath
——But vision,
Not to win war
——But a people,
And not people only,
But all peoples,
Not to exact justice from your enemies only
——But from your friends,
And not from your friends only
——But first from yourselves!

O human hearts,
Beating through fear, through jealousy,
Through pride, through avarice, through bitterness,
Through agony, through death.
Beating, beating,
Shame and forgiveness,
Bewilderment and love,
O my own country,
My new world,
Prepare,
Prepare—
Not to avenge wrong
But to exalt right,
Not to display honor
But to prove humility,
Not to bring wrath
But vision,
Not to win war
But a people,
And not people only,
But all peoples,
Not to exact justice from your enemies only
But from your friends,
And not from your friends only
But first from yourselves!