Emma lazarus the new colossus

A classic!

"Emma Lazarus" was an American poet and activist, and her sonnet "The New Colossus" is one of her most famous works. It was written in 1883 to raise funds for the construction of a pedestal for the Statue of Liberty, which was a gift from France to the United States.

The poem is a beautiful and powerful expression of the idea of freedom and opportunity that the Statue of Liberty represents. It speaks to the idea that the United States is a beacon of hope for immigrants and refugees seeking a better life, and that the country is a place where people can come to escape persecution and find freedom.

Here's the full text of the poem:

"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-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

The poem has become an iconic representation of the Statue of Liberty and the values of freedom and opportunity that it represents. It's a powerful symbol of the American dream and the idea that the United States is a place where people can come to start anew and build a better life for themselves and their families.