“PITY THE NATION”
Lawrence Ferlinghetti (After Khalil Gibran) 2007
Pity the nation whose people are sheep
And whose shepherds mislead them
Pity the nation whose leaders are liars
Whose sages are silenced
And whose bigots haunt the airwaves
Pity the nation that raises not its voice
Except to praise conquerors
And acclaim the bully as hero
And aims to rule the world
By force and by torture
Pity the nation that knows
No other language but its own
And no other culture but its own
Pity the nation whose breath is money
And sleeps the sleep of the too well fed
Pity the nation oh pity the people
who allow their rights to erode
and their freedoms to be washed away
My country, tears of thee
Sweet land of liberty!
copyright Lawrence Ferlingetti
The poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti has long been a favorite of mine. He turned 101 back in March. Here is a poem for our time.
When I Survey . . . 
Thank you for introducing it. I’m enlightened.
Always a favorite of mine! I have it on a postcard from City Lights in San Francisco and it had always been on my refrigerator❤️
A poem that will be relevant in any era!
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India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is exactly all of this, with his boldest opponent hastily thrown out of Parliament today (24 March, 2023). In addition, India’s Hindu sages are not silenced, but are some of the liars and bigots who rend the airwaves. India claims to be victim of conquerors – only to be conquered from within by a Hinduism that is yoga on the outside but violent on the inside.
I wish there were something we can do but here in the USA we have had such an administration and are fighting to not let it return…
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Beautifully written and so right for this time in our history to come possibly.
Intemporel….tout simplement!
He actually expanded some on Pity the Nation that Kahlil Gibran wrote in 1933. Isn’t that a type of plagerism?
No. He has “After Kahlil Gibran” in the title.
That Khalil Gibran wrote this “timeless poem” in 1933 would have been impossible = the Lebanese-American died 2 years earlier on April 10, 1931. That said – he did write this poem in 1930 describing the nation of Germany blindly supporting the facist and anti-Semetic leader Adolf Hitler. If he was alive today, he could have been writing the exact same words about the recently elected POTUS.
I still live in hope that our present predicament will be resolved and we will have a better, kinder and more just society. I recall Harvey Cox’s words: “I’m hopeful, but not optimistic.” My hope is grounded in my faith. Thanks for your good comment. RLF
Yes.
This so appes to maga republicans and amrika’s drift- trump defined- america founded on slavery and genocide and guns w a few good thots from founders- we must resist!!
I think it is important to note that this poem was written in 2007 during the Bush admn and the Iraq war.
Never more appropriate than today.
A perfect poem for today…the day after the election. It resonates.
Sadly so. RLF
well said, just not heard in time!
Sadly, Lawrence’s poem is so appropriate for now…November 6, 2024.
Uncannily prescient.
Given the results of the recent general election (2 days ago), Ferlinghetti’s words should be a clarion call of resistance.
They shall be! Keep on fighting!
Amen to that! Thank you.
A poem appropriate for our Nation!
Very timely