Awakened! by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
The poem explores the theme of spiritual awakening and the speaker's journey towards enlightenment. It begins with a sense of despair and desperation, but gradually shifts to a tone of hope and renewal. The speaker describes their soul as being awakened from a state of slumber, and they begin to see the world in a new light. They reject the materialism and superficiality of society, seeking instead a deeper connection with nature and the divine. Through this awakening, the speaker experiences a sense of freedom and empowerment, and is able to transcend the limitations of the physical world.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1889 · Genre: Poetry, Social Commentary, Political Literature · 402 words
First lines
Slowly the People waken; they have been, / Like weary soldiers, sleeping in their tents, / While traitors tiptoed through the silent camp / Intent on plunder. Suddenly a sound- / A careless movement of too bold a thief- / Starts one dull sleeper; then another stirs, / A third cries out a warning, and at last / The people are awake! Oh, when as one / The many rise, united and alert, / With Justice for their motto, they reflect / The mighty force of God's Omnipotence. / And nothing stands before them. Lusty Greed, / Tyrannical Corruption long in power, / And smirking Cant (whose right hand robs and slays / So that the left may dower Church and School), / Monopoly, whose mandate took from Toil / The Mother Earth, that Idleness might loll / And breed the Monster of Colossal Wealth- / All these must fall before the gathering Force / Of public indignation. That old strife / Which marks the progress of each century, / The war of Right with Might, is on once more, / And shame to him who does not take his stand.
What this Textopian page supports
Awakened! is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1889 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Date: 1889 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Social Commentary, Political Literature, Inspirational, Historical
- Length: 402 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Awakened! by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Similar titles
- A Vision by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- I Am by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- The Need Of The World by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Realisation by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- The World Grows Better by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Answer by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Genres
- Poetry — The text is written in verse form with a rhythmic and metrical structure.
- Social Commentary — The themes address societal issues such as corruption, greed, and justice.
- Political Literature — The content discusses political awakening and the struggle between right and might.
- Inspirational — The text aims to motivate and awaken the people to take action against societal injustices.
Tags
Poetry · Spirituality · Philosophy · Inspirational · Motivational · Personal Growth · Self-Discovery · Mindfulness · Consciousness · Awakening · Enlightenment · Inner Strength