Bread and Roses As we come marching, marching, in the beauty of the day, A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill-lofts gray Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses, For the people hear us singing, “Bread and Roses, Bread and Roses.” As we come marching, marching, we battle, too, for men— For they are women’s children, and we mother them again. Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes— Hearts starve as well as bodies: Give us Bread, but give us Roses. As we come marching, marching, unnumbered women dead Go crying through our singing their ancient song of Bread; Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew— Yes, it is bread we fight for—but we fight for Roses, too. As we come marching, marching, we bring the Greater Days— The rising of the women means the rising of the race— No more the drudge and idler—ten that toil where one reposes— But a sharing of life’s glories: Bread and Roses, Bread and Roses. –Oppenheim, James, The American Magazine, Issue 73, December 1911.