Liberty's Message Never Goes Out Of Style

“ . . . the Statue (of Liberty) goes on speaking, even when the tide turns against immigration — even against immigrants themselves, as they adjust to their American lives. You can’t think of the statue without hearing the words Emma Lazarus gave her.” – Esther Schor, author of the biography Emma Lazarus

Earlier this week I wrote about Lazarus, who was born in July 1849 in New York City.  Lazarus, who was fluent in 5 languages, began writing poetry at age 11.   Donated by her to help raise funds for the Statue of Liberty's installation, her sonnet The New Colossus was engraved on a plaque installed at the Statue's base, where it inspires to this day.      For Saturday’s Poem, here is Lazarus’,

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

_{Irving Berlin’s musical adaptation of The New Colossus (from the 1949 hit play “Miss Liberty”) is performed by the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra.  Check it out at:}

_{https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrizxRHNT9s}

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