When the people get to thinking, Mid the clamor of the world. Ancient Idols trembling, shrlnking From their pedestals are whirled, Mouldy evils, quavering, blinking, From their noisome dens are hurled. Just a bit of ruminating, Real thinking, not pretence. How it finds the nations waiting For a breath of common sense; How it widens, agitating Centre to circumference! Not a sham can stand before it. Not a lie can bear the brunt. Ridicule ''" it tramples o'er it; Naught it cares for form and wont; Bitter shafts that seek to score it Get an answer stem and blunt. Ah, the wrongs to Sheol slinking. Pushed by Thought's intrepid gun! Ah, the foulness, beaten, sinking At the rising of the sun. When the people get to thinking, And the hero deeds are done! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE KEARSARGE (1894) by JAMES JEFFREY ROCHE EPITAPH ON TWO YOUNG MEN NAMED LEITCH IN CROSSING THE RIVER SOUTHESK by JAMES BEATTIE ON MEMORIAL DAY by EMMA BERGSTROM A WATERPIECE by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN TWILIGHT AND DREAMS by WILLIAM STANLEY BRAITHWAITE FRAGMENT WRITTEN SHORTLY AFTER THE MARRIAGE OF MISS CHAWORTH by GEORGE GORDON BYRON UPON SOME ALTERATION IN MY MISTRESS, AFTER MY DEPARTURE INTO FRANCE by THOMAS CAREW |