(From today’s issue of the Tom Woods Letter. Subscribe for free, and get a free libertarian eBook at the same time, at TomsFreeBooks.com.)

That’s an odd topic to write about, but I was reminded of Marx’s poems today by way of contrast with a left-wing poem I read that was just awful, lifeless and bland.

(I’m sparing you that one.)

At least Marx was bold and creepy.

Murray Rothbard quoted from Marx’s poems in his book Classical Economics. Rothbard was unconvinced by those who say these poems were the products of a youthful Marx, and of no significance in understanding the man.

Thus:

… Worlds I would destroy forever,

Since I can create no world;

Since my call they notice never …

and:

Then I will be able to walk triumphantly,

Like a god, through the ruins of their kingdom.

Every word of mine is fire and action.

My breast is equal to that of the Creator.

and:

I shall build my throne high overhead

Cold, tremendous shall its summit be.

For its bulwark — superstitious dread

For its marshal — blackest agony.

and:

See this sword?

the prince of darkness

Sold it to me.

and:

With Satan I have struck my deal,

He chalks the signs, beats time for me

I play the death march fast and free.

and:

… I shall howl gigantic curses on mankind:

Ha! Eternity! She is an eternal grief …

Ourselves being clockwork, blindly mechanical,

Made to be the foul-calendars of Time and Space,

Having no purpose save to happen, to be ruined,

So that there shall be something to ruin …

If there is a something which devours,

I’ll leap within it, though I bring the world to ruins-

The world which bulks between me and the Abyss

I will smash to pieces with my enduring curses.

I’ll throw my arms around its harsh reality:

Embracing me, the world will dumbly pass away,

And then sink down to utter nothingness,

Perished, with no existence — that would be really living!

Nah, I’m sure none of that has anything to do with the mature Marx at all.

Sure does explain a lot, though — about Marxism and about the forces we’re up against these days.

Potpourri:

(1) I lovingly crafted a free eBook, based on my own experience, on different ways to generate dough online. Good antidote to those Marxian poems. It’s yours for the taking: http://www.PathsToIncome.com

(2) As usual, the Tom Woods Show will take a break at Christmas. Last episode will be released on December 22, and we’ll resume on January 3.