Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ZENGER THE PRINTER, by ARTHUR GUITERMAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ZENGER THE PRINTER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Zenger the printer, through storm and stress
Last Line: Bulwark of freedom, a fearless press!
Subject(s): Law & Lawyers; New York City - Colonial Period; Politics & Government; Printing & Printers; Zenger, John Peter (1697-1746); Attorneys


ZENGER the Printer, through storm and stress,
Deaf to a sycophant Council's rage,
Doggedly toiled at his wooden press
Building his monument, page by page,

Telling of tyranny's foul disgrace,
Rousing the spirit that never dies,
Shouting for right in the market-place,
Speaking the truth in a world of lies!

Vexing the governor's pampered fold,
Scourging with irony's stinging whip,
Showing how justice was bought and sold;
Phrasing the wrath of the curling lip.

Wrongfully haled through the public street,
Wrathfully flung on the dungeon floor,
Grimly he published that galling sheet
Out "through the hole in the prison door."

Vain were the wiles of a servile judge
Twisting to evil the wholesome laws!
Vain was the governor's heavy grudge!
Gallant old Hamilton pled his cause:

"Men of Manhattan! your fateful word
Curses or blesses the coming time!
Say! -- shall the downtrodden die unheard?
What of your freedom if Truth be crime!"

Nobly the men of a free-born strain
Answered the note of that noble plea,
Cleaving the truth-teller's futile chain --
Freeing the weapon that made them free!

. . . . .

Zenger the Printer -- his work is done;
Soft be his slumber. Through storm and stress
Guard we the prize of the fight he won --
Bulwark of Freedom, a fearless press!





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