What is the White Man's burden?
Does destiny demand
His back be laden higher
By every dusky hand?
Am I my brother's keeper —
Or keeper of his land?

What is the White Man's burden?
Is it the mounting flood
Of treasure, vain to vanquish
The tides of patriot blood,
While our supremest jewel
Is trampled in the mud?

What is the White Man's burden
That weighs upon his sleep?
To hear the hundreds dying?
To see the thousands weep?
Oh, wanton war that haunts him!
Oh, seed that he must reap!

What is the White Man's burden —
The burden of his song
That once was " Peace and Justice;
The Weak beside the Strong " ?
He falters in the singing
At memory of the wrong.

What though our vaunt of Freedom
Must evermore be mute,
And the trading of men's vices
Drag both below the brute?
Go bribe new ships to bring it —
The White Man's burden — loot!