{
 "id": "voltairine-de-cleyre/the-freethinkers-plea",
 "title": "The Freethinker’s Plea",
 "ordinal": null,
 "subtitle": null,
 "poet": "Voltairine de Cleyre",
 "poet_slug": "voltairine-de-cleyre",
 "language": "en",
 "book": "Selected Works of Voltairine de Cleyre",
 "book_slug": "selected-works",
 "book_kind": "volume",
 "sequence": 4,
 "container": null,
 "epigraph": null,
 "first_published": {
  "year": 1914,
  "venue": "Selected Works of Voltairine de Cleyre (1914)",
  "note": "First located printing is this volume; an earlier periodical printing has not been established.",
  "uncertain": false,
  "sources": [
   "https://archive.org/details/selectedworksvo01havegoog",
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43098"
  ]
 },
 "source": {
  "kind": "standard-ebooks",
  "repo": "standardebooks/voltairine-de-cleyre_poetry",
  "file": "poetry.xhtml",
  "upstream": [
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43098",
   "https://archive.org/details/selectedworksvo01havegoog",
   "https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/voltairine-de-cleyre-collected-poems",
   "https://www.google.com/books/edition/Free_Thought_Magazine/KNOMrVNM4CgC",
   "https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Open_Court/711CAQAAMAAJ",
   "https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Open_Court/6qzQAAAAMAAJ",
   "https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Worm_Turns/wslHAQAAMAAJ",
   "https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/voltairine-de-cleyre-a-new-hope",
   "https://archive.org/details/BostonInvestigator_1893-03-15"
  ],
  "rights": "public domain (SE dedication; underlying text pre-1931)"
 },
 "verification": {
  "level": "structural-only",
  "last_checked": "2026-08-20"
 },
 "stats": {
  "n_lines": 158,
  "n_stanzas": 1,
  "n_parts": 0,
  "longest_line_chars": 54,
  "max_indent": 0
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 "stanzas": [
  [
   {
    "text": "Grand eye of Liberty, light up my page!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Like promised morning after night of age",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thy dawning youth breaks in the distant east!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thy cloudy robes like silken curtains creased",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And swung in folds are floating fair and free!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The shadows of the cycles turn and flee;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The budding stars, bright minds that gemmed the night,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Are bursting into broad, bright-petaled light!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Sweet Liberty, how pure thy very breath!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "How dear in life, how doubly dear in death!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Ah, slaves that suffer in your self-forged chains,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Praying your Christ to touch and heal your pains,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Tear off your shackling irons, unbind your eyes,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Seize the grand hopes that burn along the skies!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Worship not God in temples built of gloom;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Far sweeter incense is the flower-bloom",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Than all the fires that Sacrifice may light;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And grander is the star-dome gleaming bright",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With glowing worlds, than all your altar lamps",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Pale flickering in your clammy, vaulted damps;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And richer is the broad, full, fair sun sheen,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Dripping its orient light in streams between",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The fretted shafting of the forest trees,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Throwing its golden kisses to the breeze,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Lifting the grasses with its finger-tips,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And pressing the young blossoms with warm lips,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Show’ring its glory over plain and hill,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Wreathing the storm and dancing in the rill;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Far richer in wild freedom falling there,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Shaking the tresses of its yellow hair,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Than all subdued within the dim half-light",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of stained glass windows, drooping into night.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Oh, grander far the massive mountain walls",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Which bound the vista of the forest halls,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Than all the sculptured forms which guard the piles",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That arch your tall, dim, gray, cathedral aisles!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And gladder is the carol of a bird",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Than all the anthems that were ever heard",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To steal in somber chanting from the tone",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of master voices praising the Unknown.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In the great wild, where foot of man ne’er trod,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "There find we Nature’s church and Nature’s God!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Here are no fetters! though is free as air;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Its flight may spread far as its wings may dare;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And through it all one voice cries, “God is love,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And love is God!” Around, within, above,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Behold the working of the perfect law⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The law immutable in which no flaw",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Exists, and from which no appeal is made;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Ev’n as the sunlight chases far the shade",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And shadows chase the light in turn again,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So every life is fraught with joy and pain;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The stinging thorn lies hid beside the rose;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The bud is blighted ere its leave unclose;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So pleasure born of Hope may oft-time yield",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A stinging smart of thorns, a barren field!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But let it be: the buds will bloom again,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The fields will freshen in the summer rain;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And never storm scowls dark but still, somewhere,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A bow is bending in the upper air.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then learn the law if thou wouldst live aright;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And know no unseen power, no hand of might,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Can set aside the law which wheels the stars;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "No incompleteness its perfection mars;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The buds will wake in season, and the rain",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "will fall when clouds hang heavy, and again",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The snows will tremble when the winter’s breath",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Congeals the cloud-tears, as the touch of Death",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Congeals the last drop on the sufferer’s cheek.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thus do all Nature’s tongues in chorus speak:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Think not, O man, that thou canst e’er escape",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "One jot of Justice’s law, nor turn thy fate",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "By yielding sacrifice to the Unseen!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Purged by thyself alone canst thou be clean.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "One guide to happiness thou mayst learn:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Love toward the world begets love in return.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And if to others you the measure mete",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of love, be sure your harvest will be sweet;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But if ye sow broadcast the seed of hate,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Ye’ll reap again, albeit ye reap it late.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then let your life-work swell the great flood-tide",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of love towards all the world; the world is wide,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The sea of life is broad; its waves stretch far;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "No range, no barrier, its sweep may bar;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The world is filled, is trodden down with pain;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The sea of life is gathered up of rain⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A throat, a bed, a sink, for human tears,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A burial of hopes, a miasm of fears!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But see! the sun of love shines softly out,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Flinging its golden fingers all about,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Pressing its lips in loving, soft caress,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Upon the world’s pale cheek; the pain grows less,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The tears are dried upon the quivering lashes,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "An answering sunbeam ’neath the white lids flashes!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The sea of life is dimpled o’er with smiles,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The sun of love the cloud of woe beguiles,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And turns its heavy brow to forehead fair,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Framed in the glory of its sun-gilt hair.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Be thine the warming touch, the kiss of love;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Vainly ye seek for comfort from above,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Vainly ye pray the Gods to ease your pain;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The heavy words fall back on you again!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Vainly ye cry for Christ to smooth your way;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The thorns sting sharper while ye kneeling pray!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Vainly ye look upon the world of woe,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And cry, “O God, avert the bitter blow!”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Ye cannot turn the lightning from its track,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Nor call one single little instant back;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The law swerves not, and with unerring aim",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The shaft of justice falls; he bears the blame",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Who violates the rule: do well your task,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For justice overtakes you all at last.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Vainly ye patient ones await reward,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Trusting th’ Almighty’s angel to record",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Each bitter tear, each disappointed sigh;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Reward descends not, gifted from on high,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But is the outgrowth of the eternal law:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "As from the earth the toiling seed-germs draw",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The food which gives them life and strength to bear",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The storms and suns which sweep the upper air,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So ye must draw from out the pregnant earth",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The metal true wherewith to build your worth;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So shall ye brave the howling of the blast,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And smile triumphant o’er the storm at last.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Nor dream these trials are without their use;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Between your joys and griefs ye cannot choose,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And say your life with either is complete:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Ever the bitter mingles with the sweet.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The dews must press the petals down at night,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "If in the dawning they would glisten bright;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "If sunbeams needs must ripen out the grain",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Not less the early blades must woo the rain:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "If now your eyes be wet with weary tears,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Ye’ll gather them as gems in after years;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And if the rains now sodden down your path,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Ye’ll reap rich harvest in the aftermath.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Ye idle mourners, crying in your grief,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The souls ye weep have found the long relief:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Why grieve for those who fold their hands in peace?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Their sore-tried hearts have found a glad release;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Their spirits sink into the solemn sea!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Mourn ye the prisoner from his chains let free?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Nay, ope your ears unto the living cry",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That pleads for living comfort! Hark, the sigh",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of million heartaches rising in your ears!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Kiss back the living woes, the living tears!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Go down into the felon’s gloomy cell;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Send there the ray of love: as tree-buds swell",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "When spring’s warm breath bids the cold winter cease,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So will his heart swell with the hope of peace.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Be filled with love, for love is Nature’s God;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The God which trembles in the tender sod,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The God which tints the sunset, lights the dew,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Sprinkles with stars the firmament’s broad blue,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And draws all hearts together in a free",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Wide sweep of love, broad as the ether-sea.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "No other law or guidance do we need;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The world’s our church, to do good is our creed.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ]
 ]
}