OPPENHEIM, James


Bread and Roses

As we go 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 days 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, un-numbered women dead

Go crying through our singing their ancient call for bread

Small art and love and beauty their trudging spirits knew

Yes, it is bread we. fight for, but we fight for roses, too

As we go 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