LEADER no more, be judged of us! Hailed Chief, and loved, of yore — Youth, and the faith of youth, cry out: Leader and Chief no more!
We dreamed a Prophet, flushed with faith, Content to toil in pain If that his sacrifice might be, Somehow, his people's gain.
We saw a vision, and our blood Beat red and hot and strong: “Lead us ( we cried ) to war against Some foul, embattled wrong!”
We dreamed a Warrior whose sword Was edged for sham and shame; We dreamed a Statesman far above The vulgar lust for fame.
We were not cynics, and we dreamed A Man who made no truce With lies nor ancient privilege Nor old, entrenched abuse.
We dreamed... we dreamed... Youth dreamed a dream! And even you forgot Yourself, one moment, and dreamed, too — Struck, while your mood was hot!
Struck three or four good blows... and then Turned back to easier things: The cheap applause, the blatant mob, The praise of underlings!
Praise... praise... was ever man so filled, So avid still, of praise? So hungry for the crowd's acclaim, The sycophantic phrase?
O you whom Greatness beckoned to... O swollen Littleness Who turned from Immortality To fawn upon Success!
O blind with love of self, who led Youth's vision to defeat, Bawling and brawling for rewards, Loud, in the common street!
O you who were so quick to judge — Leader, and loved, of yore — Hear now the judgment of our youth: Leader and Chief no more!
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