Poems (Hoffman)/Workers
WORKERS
Call no work low that is honest;Honest toil never degrades;Rather the thief and the sluggardUnerring justice upbraids; Scorn, who of scorn are deserving, Praise, to whom praises are due; Honor to every true worker Under the red, white and blue.
Praise for your noble example,Honor for idleness spurned,Long may you reap the unsulliedBlessing of benefits earned; Kingly is loyal endeavor, Noble the task that is true; Duty is never degrading, Do what your hands find to do.
Into the mills and the factories,Into the quarries below;Into the field and the forest,Bravely and cheerfully go; But for the wheels ye are turning, But for the timber ye hew, But for your toil in the harvest, What would the nation pursue?
Yours is a praiseworthy calling,Stain not its record by crime;'Tis yours to make it ennobling,'Tis yours to make it sublime; Wield not the sword of transgression, Be noble-hearted and true; Scorn to be anarchist traitors, Under the red, white and blue.
Justice will come to the worthy,Right at the last will prevail,History grandly repeats it,Time never knew it to fail; Wait is the gold key of justice, Justice will open to you; Truth is the only sure watchword, Truth will yet carry you through.
Scorn to the men or the womenWho honest labor despise;Near be the day in the future,When such false sentiment dies; Deep be the grave where 'tis buried, May none e'er bring it to view; Servants are good as their masters If they're as upright and true.
By all the trampers and loafersMaking their country's worst bane,By all the truly degradedLiving on ill-gotten gain; Scorn, who of scorn are deserving, Praise, to whom praises are due; Workers are nobler than idlers, Under the red, white and blue.