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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE ANSWER OF THE LORD by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON

First Line: HOW LONG, O LORD, HOW LONG'
Last Line: "THAT I HAVE MADE YOU MEN."
Subject(s): WORLD WAR I; FIRST WORLD WAR;
I

"How long, O Lord, how long" --
A myriad voices cry --
"Shall wanton powers of wrong
Thy sacred laws defy?
The dead are like the sand,
And woe and misery
The sea bears to the land,
The rivers to the sea.

"The innocent are slain
At Mercy's bolted door;
The infant's wail is vain,
For pity is no more.
When shall the ruin cease
And Thou confound the strong?
Till the white days of peace
How long, O Lord, how long?"

II

"How long, O men, how long,
Lift ye weak hands to Me
To rid you of great wrong?
For this I left you free.
A million years have gone
To grow the perfect flower;
I reared you from the spawn
To fit you for this hour.

"I took you from the ooze
Ere yet man measured time;
I gave you mind, to choose;
I gave you soul, to climb.
I willed you unafraid
Of all, -- nay, more: that ye,
Though in Mine image made,
Should not be slaves of Me.

"I gave you Law, to guide,
That needed not My hand;
With Reason, to decide,
And Conscience, to command.
Ye are not beast or tree,
Ye are not stone or clod,
Your upward path is free,
Ye are the sons of God.

"And shall ye then descend
From your divine estate
The craven neck to bend
And call the yoke your fate?
Wake from the sloth of night
And drain life's precious bowl!
The hour has come to smite,
Or lose a people's soul.

"Think not that I am dumb,
Though ye be long withstood;
Ye serve an age to come
Who war for brotherhood.
Delay not to release
The arrow from its yew:
I, who am God of Peace,
Am God of Battle, too.

"Then lift ye up stanch hearts,
Make strong your hands of skill,
And by your righteous arts
Be partners of My will.
Your breath, by Me endowed,
If need give back again,
That I once more be proud
That I have made you men."



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