The Steam King
¶ 1
There is a King, and a ruthless King, Leave a comment on line 1 0
¶ 2
Not a King of the poet’s dream; Leave a comment on line 2 0
¶ 3
But a tyrant fell, white slaves know well, Leave a comment on line 3 0
¶ 4
And that ruthless King is Steam. Leave a comment on line 4 0
¶ 5
He hath an arm, an iron arm, Leave a comment on line 5 0
¶ 6
And tho’ he hath but one, Leave a comment on line 6 0
¶ 7
In that mighty arm there is a charm, Leave a comment on line 7 0
¶ 8
That millions hath undone. Leave a comment on line 8 0
¶ 9
Like the ancient Moloch grim, his sire Leave a comment on line 9 0
¶ 10
In Himmon’s vale that stood, Leave a comment on line 10 0
¶ 11
His bowels are of living fire, Leave a comment on line 11 0
¶ 12
And children are his food. Leave a comment on line 12 0
¶ 13
His priesthood are a hungry band, Leave a comment on line 13 0
¶ 14
Blood-thirsty, proud, and bold; Leave a comment on line 14 0
¶ 15
’Tis they direct his giant hand, Leave a comment on line 15 0
¶ 16
In turning blood to gold. Leave a comment on line 16 0
¶ 17
For filthy gain, in their servile chain Leave a comment on line 17 0
¶ 18
All nature’s rights they bind; Leave a comment on line 18 0
¶ 19
They mock at lovely woman’s pain, Leave a comment on line 19 0
¶ 20
And to manly tears are blind. Leave a comment on line 20 0
¶ 21
The sighs and groans of Labour’s sons Leave a comment on line 21 0
¶ 22
Are music in their ear, Leave a comment on line 22 0
¶ 23
And the skeleton shades, of lads and maids, Leave a comment on line 23 0
¶ 24
In the Steam King’s hells appear. Leave a comment on line 24 0
¶ 25
Those hells upon earth, since the Steam King’s birth Leave a comment on line 25 0
¶ 26
Have scatter’d around despair; Leave a comment on line 26 0
¶ 27
For the human mind for heaven design’d, Leave a comment on line 27 0
¶ 28
With the body, is murdered there. Leave a comment on line 28 0
¶ 29
Then down with the King, the Moloch King. Leave a comment on line 29 0
¶ 30
Ye working millions all; Leave a comment on line 30 0
¶ 31
O chain his hand, or our native land Leave a comment on line 31 0
¶ 32
Is destin’d by him to fall. Leave a comment on line 32 0
¶ 33
And his Satraps abhor’d each proud Mill Lord, Leave a comment on line 33 0
¶ 34
Now gorg’d with gold and blood; Leave a comment on line 34 0
¶ 35
Must be put down by the nation’s frown, Leave a comment on line 35 0
¶ 36
As well as their monster God. Leave a comment on line 36 0
¶ 37
The cheap bread crew will murder you, Leave a comment on line 37 0
¶ 38
By bludgeon, ball, or brand; Leave a comment on line 38 0
¶ 39
Then your Charter gain and the power will be vain Leave a comment on line 39 0
¶ 40
Of the Steam King’s bloody band. Leave a comment on line 40 0
¶ 41
Then down with the King, the Moloch King, Leave a comment on line 41 0
¶ 42
And the satraps of his might, Leave a comment on line 42 0
¶ 43
Let right prevail, then freedom hail! Leave a comment on line 43 0
¶ 44
When might shall stoop to right! Leave a comment on line 44 0
The text of Edwin Mead’s poem “The Steam King” printed here is taken from the online exhibition Rhyme and Reform: Victorian Working-Class Poets and Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “The Cry of the Children”, a companion to a symposium of the same name held October 4-5, 2018 and sponsored by the Armstrong Browning Library at Baylor University and the University of Strathclyde in Scotland and the University of Manchester in England.