Question

Which lines in this excerpt from the poem "A Political Reverie" by Mary Otis Warren imply that America was an oppressed and exploited nation? No despot here shall rule with awful sway Nor orphan's spoils become the minion's prey; No more the widow'd bleeding bosom mourns, Nor injur'd cities weep their slaughter'd sons; For then each tyrant, by the hand of fate, And standing troops, the bane of every state, Forever spurn'd, shall be remov'd as far As bright Hesperus from the polar star; Freedom and virtue shall united reign, And stretch their empire o'er the wide domain. On a broad base the commonwealth shall stand, When lawless power withdraws its impious hand; When crowns and sceptres are grown useless things, Nor petty pretors plunder here for kings

Answer 1

Nor injur'd cities weep their slaughter'd sons;

And standing troops, the bane of every state,

Forever spurn'd, shall be remov'd as far

And stretch their empire o'er the wide domain.

On a broad base the commonwealth shall stand,

Nor petty pretors plunder here for kings

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

I believe the lines are:

"No despot here shall rule with awful sway" - "here" implies the actuality of the despotic rule in America.

"No more the widow'd bleeding bosom mourns" - "no more" implies that widows used to mourn (or still mourn).

"When lawless power withdraws its impious hand" - it implies that the lawless power is still acting.

"When crowns and sceptres are grown useless things" - it implies that crowns and sceptres are useful now.

The rest of the lines also talk about the future, but it can also be a very general future, e.g. a future of all humanity.