The Cry for Justice: An Anthology of the Literature of Social Protest / The writings of philosophers, poets, novelists, social reformers, and others who have voiced the struggle against social injustice; selected from twenty-five languages; covering a period of five thousand years

by Unknown

The Sons of Martha

By Rudyard Kipling

(Under this title the English poet has written a striking picture of the social chasm. He figures the world’s toilers as the “Sons of Martha,” who, because their mother “was rude to the Lord, her Guest,” are condemned forever to unrequited toil. “It is their care in all the ages to take the buffet and cushion the shock.” The poem goes on to tell of the ignorance and torment in which they live—while the Sons of Mary, who “have inherited that good part,” live in ease upon their toil.)

/p “They sit at the Feet—and they hear the Word—they see how truly the promise runs. They have cast their burdens upon the Lord, and—the Lord He lays them on Martha’s sons.” p/

On the other hand the sons of Martha have to face reality.

“They do not preach that their God will rouse them an hour before the nuts work loose,

They do not teach that His pity allows them to leave their work when they damn-well choose.”

The entire poem may be found in the 1918 Collected Edition of Mr. Kipling’s poems.