Anarchy
John-henry-mackay
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Anarchy by John Henry Mackay
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John-henry-mackayAbout
This poem was used as the introduction of Emma Goldman’s classic “Anarchism and Other Essays.”
It essentially illustrates the negative connotations people have with the term anarchism/anarchy and how the ideology doesn’t mean without rules, but without rulers.
Anarchy Annotated
Ever reviled, accursed, ne’er understood,
Thou art the grisly terror of our age.
“Wreck of all order,” cry the multitude,
”Art thou, and war and murder’s endless rage.”
O, let them cry. To them that ne’er have striven
The truth that lies behind a word to find,
To them the word’s right meaning was not given.
They shall continue blind among the blind.
But thou, O word, so clear, so strong, so pure,
Thou sayest all which I for goal have taken.
I give thee to the future! Thine secure
When each at least unto himself shall waken.
Comes it in sunshine? In the tempest’s thrill?
I cannot tell — but it the earth shall see!
I am an Anarchist! Wherefore I will
Not rule, and also ruled I will not be!