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elected to the City Council and the State Council and the World Council
by a free and general vote of all men。 But we wished not to be a
Leader； even though it is a great honor。 We wished to be a Scholar。
So we awaited our turn in the great hall and then we heard the Council
of Vocations call our name： 〃Equality 7…2521。〃 We walked to the dais；
and our legs did not tremble； and we looked up at the Council。 There
were five members of the Council； three of the male gender and two of the
female。 Their hair was white and their faces were cracked as the clay of a
dry river bed。 They were old。 They seemed older than the marble of the
Temple of the World Council。 They sat before us and they did not move。
And we saw no breath to stir the folds of their white togas。 But we knew
that they were alive； for a finger of the hand of the oldest rose； pointed to
us； and fell down again。 This was the only thing which moved； for the lips
of the oldest did not move as they said： 〃Street Sweeper。〃
We felt the cords of our neck grow tight as our head rose higher to
look upon the faces of the Council； and we were happy。 We knew we had
been guilty； but now we had a way to atone for it。 We would accept our
Life Mandate； and we would work for our brothers； gladly and willingly；
and we would erase our sin against them； which they did not know； but we
knew。 So we were happy； and proud of ourselves and of our victory over
ourselves。 We raised our right arm and we spoke； and our voice was the
clearest； the steadiest voice in the hall that day； and we said：
〃The will of our brothers be done。〃
And we looked straight into the eyes of the Council； but their eyes
were as cold blue glass buttons。
So we went into the Home of the Street Sweepers。 It is a grey house on
a narrow street。 There is a sundial in its courtyard； by which the Council of
the Home can tell the hours of the day and when to ring the bell。 When
the bell rings； we all arise from our beds。 The sky is green and cold in
our windows to the east。 The shadow on the sundial marks off a half…
hour while we dress and eat our breakfast in the dining hall； where there
are five long tables with twenty clay plates and twenty clay cups on each
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ANTHEM
table。 Then we go to work in the streets of the City； with our brooms and
our rakes。 In five hours； when the sun is high； we return to the Home and
we eat our midday meal； for which one…half hour is allowed。 Then we go
to work again。 In five hours； the shadows are blue on the pavements； and
the sky is blue with a deep brightness which is not bright。 We come back
to have our dinner； which lasts one hour。 Then the bell rings and we
walk in a straight column to one of the City Halls； for the Social Meeting。
Other columns of men arrive from the Homes of the different Trades。
The candles are lit； and the Councils of the different Homes stand in a
pulpit； and they speak to us of our duties and of our brother men。 Then
visiting Leaders mount the pulpit and they read to us the speeches which
were made in the City Council that day； for the City Council represents all
men and all men must know。 Then we sing hymns； the Hymn of
Brotherhood； and the Hymn of Equality； and the Hymn of the Collective
Spirit。 The sky is a soggy purple when we return to the Home。 Then the
bell rings and we walk in a straight column to the City Theatre for three
hours of Social Recreation。 There a play is shown upon the stage； with two
great choruses from the Home of the Actors； which speak and answer all
together； in two great voices。 The plays are about toil and how good it is。
Then we walk back to the Home in a straight column。 The sky is like a
black sieve pierced by silver drops that tremble； ready to burst through。
The moths beat against the street lanterns。 We go to our beds and we
sleep； till the bell rings again。 The sleeping halls are white and clean and
bare of all things save one hundred beds。
Thus have we lived each day of four years； until two springs ago when
our crime happened。 Thus must all men live until they are forty。 At
forty； they are worn out。 At forty； they are sent to the Home of the
Useless； where the Old Ones live。 The Old Ones do not work； for the
State takes care of them。 They sit in the sun in summer and they sit by
the fire in winter。 They do not speak often； for they are weary。 The Old
Ones know that they are soon to die。 When a miracle happens and some
live to be forty…five； they are the Ancient Ones； and the children stare at
them when passing by the Home of the Useless。 Such is to be our life； as
that of all our brothers and of the brothers who came before us。
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ANTHEM
Such would have been our life； had we not committed our crime which
changed all things for us。 And it was our curse which drove us to our
crime。 We had been a good Street Sweeper and like all our brother Street
Sweepers； save for our cursed wish to know。 We looked too long at the
stars at night； and at the trees and the earth。 And when we cleaned the
yard of the Home of the Scholars； we gathered the glass vials； the pieces
of metal； the dried bones which they had discarded。 We wished to keep
these things and to study them； but we had no place to hide them。 So we
carried them to the City Cesspool。 And then we made the discovery。
It was on a day of the spring before last。 We Street Sweepers work in
brigades of three； and we were with Union 5…3992； they of the half…brain；
and with International 4…8818。 Now Union 5…3992 are a sickly lad and
sometimes they are stricken with convulsions； when their mouth froths
and their eyes turn white。 But International 4…8818 are different。 They
are a tall； strong youth and their eyes are like fireflies； for there is laughter
in their eyes。 We cannot look upon International 4…8818 and not smile in
answer。 For this they were not liked in the Home of the Students； as it is
not proper to smile without reason。 And also they were not liked because
they took pieces of coal and they drew pictures upon the walls； and they
were pi