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Poem
October 14, 1922
The Gazette
Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio
What is this article about?
Poem by Cowper lamenting daily reports of wrongs and outrages, particularly how man's obdurate heart severs brotherhood over skin color differences, dooming others as prey, deeming it human nature's foulest blot.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
"HUMAN NATURE'S FOULEST BLOT."
My ear is pained
My soul is sick with every day's report
Of wrong and outrage, with which the earth is filled.
There is no flesh in man's obdurate heart.
It does not feel for man: the natural bond
Of brotherhood is severed, the flax
That falls asunder at the touch of fire.
He finds his fellow guilty of a skin
Not colored like his own: and having power
To enforce the wrong, for such a worthy cause
Dooms and devotes him as his lawful prey.
Thus man devotes his brother, and destroys:
"Tis human nature's foulest blot,
—Cowper.
My ear is pained
My soul is sick with every day's report
Of wrong and outrage, with which the earth is filled.
There is no flesh in man's obdurate heart.
It does not feel for man: the natural bond
Of brotherhood is severed, the flax
That falls asunder at the touch of fire.
He finds his fellow guilty of a skin
Not colored like his own: and having power
To enforce the wrong, for such a worthy cause
Dooms and devotes him as his lawful prey.
Thus man devotes his brother, and destroys:
"Tis human nature's foulest blot,
—Cowper.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Slavery Abolition
Moral Virtue
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Human Nature
Foulest Blot
Racial Prejudice
Brotherhood Severed
Skin Color
Cowper Poem
What entities or persons were involved?
Cowper
Poem Details
Title
Human Nature's Foulest Blot.
Author
Cowper
Subject
Condemnation Of Racial Prejudice And Human Brotherhood Severed By Skin Color
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
He Finds His Fellow Guilty Of A Skin
Not Colored Like His Own: And Having Power
To Enforce The Wrong, For Such A Worthy Cause
Dooms And Devotes Him As His Lawful Prey.
Thus Man Devotes His Brother, And Destroys:
"Tis Human Nature's Foulest Blot,