1492 by Emma Lazarus -- Poem and reading notes

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 1492 

 
Thou two-faced year, Mother of Change and Fate, // The Inquisition
Didst weep when Spain cast forth with flaming sword, 
The children of the prophets of the Lord, 
Prince, priest, and people, spurned by zealot hate. // hatred of Jews
Hounded from sea to sea, from state to state, 
The West refused them, and the East abhorred. 
No anchorage the known world could afford, 
Close-locked was every port, barred every gate. 
Then smiling, thou unveil’dst, O two-faced year, 
A virgin world where doors of sunset part, // People died and were exiled but at least Columbus discovered America
Saying, "Ho, all who weary, enter here! 
There falls each ancient barrier that the art 
Of race or creed or rank devised, to rear 
Grim bulwarked hatred between heart and heart!" //In America the barriers of race creed and rank that make people hate one another fall.



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