by W. E. B. Du Bois
Young Egypt rose and seized her ditch
And said: "What's mine is mine !"
Old Europe sneered and cried: "The bitch
Must learn again to whine !"
The British lion up and roared
But used his nether end
Which raised a stink and made men shrink
As world peace seemed to rend.
Dull Dulles rushed about the world,
His pockets full of gold.
Ike sadly left his game of golf
And talked as he was told:
"Lord God! Send Peace and Plenty down
And keep on drafting men.
Send billions east and so at least
No income tax shall end."
Adlai essays with polished phrase
To say the same thing less
And prove without a shade of doubt
Both parties made this mess.
The campaign's done and Ike has won,
We spent ten millions for the fun.
Meantime it would be well to note
How many million did not vote.
Young Israel raised a mighty cry :
"Shall Pharaoh ride anew ?"
But Nasser grimly pointed Weat,
"They mixed this witches brew!"
Big Three are shouting long and loud;
United Nations boil;
Big Business raves: "Drop on these waves
A million tons of oil! "
With Whites withdrawn, the traffic runs
As it has run before.
But white folk fumed and pointed out
Red pilots from the shore.
Old Britain would be great again
With war on Earth, bad will to men!
And France would civilise the dead
And make the black Sahara red.
Greed splits the West and hatreds swell
To rebuild race and color pride,
Where Moses and Mohammed died
And Jesus Christ was crucified.
Israel as the West betrays
Its murdered, mocked, and damned,
Becomes the shock troop of two knaves
Who steal the dark men's land.
Beware, white world, that great black hand
Which Nasser's power waves
Grasps hard the concentrated hate
Of myriad million slaves.
The Soviets in blood and tears
Have made their Socialism strong
The West quite frantic in its fears
Has tried to stamp it to the ground.
This cannot be, it's but the sight
Of private capital's sad plight.
Fear makes America feel free
To buy revolt in Hungary.
For eastward trumpets sing the song
The rising sun calls loud and long
All Africa lifts high its head,
And sees all Asia burning Red !
Last updated March 11, 2023