The Voices of the People
The poem explores the idea that the voices of the people have the power to shape society and bring about change. It emphasizes the importance of individual voices coming together to create a collective force for justice, freedom, and equality. The speaker argues that when people unite and express their desires, they can overcome oppression and create a better world.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1883 · Genre: Poetry, Social Commentary, Political · 300 words
First lines
Oh! I hear the people calling through the day time and the night time, They are calling, they are crying for the coming of the right time. It behooves you, men and women, it behooves you to be heeding, For there lurks a note of menace underneath their plaintive pleading.
Let the land usurpers listen, let the greedy-hearted ponder, On the meaning of the murmur, rising here and swelling yonder, Swelling louder, waxing stronger, like a storm-fed stream that courses Through the valleys, down abysses, growing, gaining with new forces.
What this Textopian page supports
The Voices of the People is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1883 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: 1883 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Social Commentary, Political, Inspirational
- Length: 300 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The text is written in verse form with a rhythmic and lyrical quality.
- Social Commentary — The themes address social issues such as inequality, greed, and the plight of the working class.
- Political — The content includes a call to action and critique of societal structures, indicating political undertones.
- Inspirational — The text aims to inspire change and awareness among its readers.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · Early 20th Century · Social Commentary · Political Activism · Feminist Themes · Human Rights · Freedom of Speech · Democracy · Equality · Justice · Morality