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Poem-a-day

Song for the Luddites

1.
As the Liberty lads o’er the sea
Bought their freedom, and cheaply, with blood,
          So we, boys, we
     Will die fighting, or live free,
And down with all kings but King Ludd!

2.
When the web that we weave is complete,
And the shuttle exchanged for the sword,
     We will fling the winding sheet
     O’er the despot at our feet,
And dye it deep in the gore he has poured.

3.
Though black as his heart its hue,
Since his veins are corrupted to mud,
               Yet this is the dew
Which the tree shall renew
Of Liberty, planted by Ludd!

This poem is in the public domain. Published in Poem-a-Day on July 12, 2026, by the Academy of American Poets.

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Lord George Gordon Byron

George Gordon Byron
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About Poem-a-Day

Poem-a-Day is the original and only daily digital poetry series featuring over 250 new, previously unpublished poems by today’s talented poets each year. Oliver Baez Bendorf is the Guest Editor for July. Read or listen to a Q&A with Oliver about his curatorial process, and learn more about the 2026 Guest Editors. Support Poem-a-Day.  

If you have any questions about Poem-a-Day, visit our Poem-a-Day FAQ.

Previous Poems

Title Author Date
Self-Care Faylita Hicks 02/21/2023
her aint even at de funeral avery r. young 02/20/2023
Plácido’s Farewell to His Mother Gabriel de la Concepción Valdés 02/19/2023
The Eyes of My Regret Angelina Weld Grimké 02/18/2023
The Lose Your Mother Suite VI. “across the surface of my studied speech” Remica Bingham-Risher 02/17/2023
St. Valentine, Bishop of Terni, probably beheaded, was also the patron saint of asthma, beekeepers, and epilepsy, so he might have said Lynne Thompson 02/16/2023
An Act of Love Tommye Blount 02/15/2023
Wetland francine j. harris 02/14/2023
Love Poem Attempt 3/? Taylor Byas 02/13/2023
Challenge Sterling A. Brown 02/12/2023

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