No, this post has nothing to do with Jane Austen. It’s about a complicated and inspiring woman who wrote one of America’s most famous poems. She never went to school; her father’s library was her classroom. At 16, her doting father had a book of her poems published which was over 200 pages long. She died of cancer in 1887 at the age of 38. Her name was Emma Lazarus.
Emma is most famous for her poem “The New Colossus”. This poem was written for an auction in order to raise funds to build the pedestal for the new Statue of Liberty. I’m sure you recognize the famous line, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Sadly, she didn’t live to see the poem placed at the base of the statue. Nor could she have foreseen how it became inextricably linked to the Mother of Exiles.
She was ahead of her time. As a Jewish-American woman author, she gave a voice to the persecuted Jews in Eastern Europe with her passionate poetry and pleas for help. Her poetry is fascinating to me, albeit difficult as her pre-Zionist ideas and views of her race and religion predominate her writing. That said, I found this wonderfully inspiring children’s book on her life which I highly recommend – Liberty’s Voice by Erica Silverman. The first lines read, “Emma Lazarus loved to learn. She had a passion for words and a hunger for knowledge.” After reading this book, LizzieBee (dd 9) immediately sat down to write a poem she titled “Emma’s Colossus”.
I am personally reading a book by Esther Schor titled Emma Lazarus which is part of the Jewish Encounters series. Her life intertwined with Ralph Waldo Emerson, John Singer Sargent, Matthew Arnold, William Morris and George Elliot, to name just a few. The book also recounts little-known anti-Semitic events that took place in the U.S. during the late 1870s. A worthwhile radio interview with Schor can be heard here.
Here is the complete poem for you to enjoy!
THE NEW COLOSSUS by Emma Lazarus
| 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!” |
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We were trying to decide on a third poet for next school year. Your post has pretty much sealed Emma Lazarus for us. Thanks!
Thanks for this post. I will look into that book and radio drama in a few weeks. After vacation we will dive into learning more about the Jewish faith, holidays, traditions, etc. and this will be very helpful. We are jump starting it all with the series All of a Kind Family and look forward to where it will take us.
Blessings,
Tricia
I read about her this past year BUT when I saw your title MY EMMA was walking in front of me as I sit on the couch being a couch potato with my lap top ~~ declaring EMMA?!! " Oh not you, the poet…!" Thanks for the link to the audio. Will listen tomorrow!