THE VICTIM SPEAKS

THEODORE DREISER

To lose a hand, Or an eye, Or a leg; Or to be born Ill-favoured— That is it. All else is forgivable. For look at me: As a boy, in a railroad accident, I lost a hand, And though before And since I was and am Moral, Honest, Intelligent, Even energetic— Those things so honoured of the lips of life— Yet, hearken: Having lost a hand, It is the same with me, Or worse, As though I had been a drunkard, Or stolen, Or had a dozen Illegitimate children. For I could not be more shunned— Shied at.

Without my hand, All men withdraw from me, As though they feared contagion, As though, Somehow, One came by a lost hand Through sin Or shame.

Not freedom from all crime, my brothers, Nor honesty, Nor virtue, But wholeness— That is the great virtue. The error is To lose a hand, An eye, A leg, Or to be born Ill-favoured. All else— Even ignorance And poverty— Is forgivable.