Rage of the New Colossus

Library of Congress

In Massachusetts one May morn
A daughter howled in anger
Her sister held against her scorn
(Mother of Exiles bows her head)
No justice would assuage her.

Her mother stolen off the street
Removed by jackboot forces
Due process took a cold back seat
(Mother of Exiles’ eyes glow red)
To hate the State endorses.

In congress Cory Booker railed
For four and twenty hours
At citizens unjustly jailed
(Mother of Exiles shakes with dread)
His spark a sense of good empower

In Illinois a billionaire
Rebuked this rule by hatred
“Take to the streets, your grievance air!”
(Mother of Exiles leaves her dais)
“Our rule of law is sacred!”

In California, Tennessee
New Jersey, Courts, and Schools
The Jackboots snatch their detainees
(Mother of Exiles’ glower ablaze)
Regardless of our sacred rules

We’ve seen these crime before, we saw
How power treated poor George Floyd
We’ve witnessed ICE ignore the law
(with Mother of Exiles’ seven rays)
To fling our neighbors to the void

You heroes waiting for a sign
A signal fire to follow
So overwhelmed by evil’s vine
(Mother of Exiles shine your vanes!)
It’s—unlike its boots—is hollow

But not our courage, not our hearts
We turn to Bledsoe island
We arm ourselves with all the parts
(Mother of Exiles kick your chains!)
The New Colossus lends its hand.

AND THERE, some quiet neighborhood
That daughter holds her hands out
AND THERE her face beneath a boot,
(Mother of Exiles’ anger trains)
Pressed into asphalt—No! we shout.

So now we millions swell and crash
Like waves on Normandy
We’ll fill the streets, we’ll howl, we’ll thrash
(Mother of Exiles bring justice due)
Our voices raw with fervency

We ARE your tired, we ARE your poor—
But not your huddled masses
We’re led by Lady Liberty
(I, mother of exiles, walk with you)
To kick your racist asses.