Israel Zangwill (1864 – 1926)
English humorist and writer.
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No Jew was ever fool enough to turn Christian unless he was a clever man.
What a dark world—who knows?—
Ours to inhabit is!
One touch and what a strange
Glory might burst on us,
What a hid universe!
How full and rich a world
Theirs to inhabit is—
Sweet scent of grass and bloom,
Playmates’ glad symphony,
Cool touch of western wind,
Sunshine’s divine caress.
How should they know or feel
They are in darkness?
But, oh, the miracle!
If a Redeemer came,
Laid finger on their eyes—
One touch and what a world,
New-born in loveliness!
An Edward's England spat us out - a band
Foredoomed to redden Vistula or Rhine,
And leaf-like toss with every wind malign.
All mocked the faith they could not understand.
No... the real American has not yet arrived. He is only in the Crucible, I tell you—he will be the fusion of all races, perhaps the coming superman.
Oh, for the simple life,
For tents and starry skies!
America is God's Crucible, the great Melting-Pot where all the races of Europe are melting and re-forming!
Scratch the Christian and you find the pagan — spoiled.
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