Never is man a man. Though he rage the world around. Till the soul he should help, in Jehovah's plan. He has sought like a man, and found; And never a nation Is more than dirt. Dirt and a burden of men. Till it finds a people with deadly hurt. And back to safety, and back to hope. And back to freedom's imperial scope It lifts the people again. I and of my faith and love! Though the cynic flout and sneer. The rebuke or the praise of the Lord above Shall alone be your boon or fear. What need has my nation to reach and seize Burdens of subjects and soil? Not these though the slanderous scout, not these, But slaves set free, and the hungry fed. And orphans sheltered and comforted, Be these our booty and spoil! Not to called a Power. That the cringing world should kneel. Nor to sit where the masterful nations lower In their castles of threatening steel, But here where the tyrant has whip in air. Yonder where dungeons are red. On the serf at toil, the oppressed at prayer. To place the crown of a man's desire. And establish his throne by a household fire. For this may our arms be sped! Yes, and if power mean peace, And the army move for God, And if freedom increase as our ships increase, And the ground where our troops have trod Shall ring, as our armies encompass it, With broken fetters and chains. Then the rank of war is Jehovah's writ. The moving text of the lord's decree Proclaiming clear to the land, to the sea. What God enacts and ordains. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...INSCRIPTION FOR A FOUNTAIN ON A HEATH by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE A PROPER NEW BALLAD [ENTITLED THE FAIRIES' FAREWELL] by RICHARD CORBET HELIOTROPE by HARRY THURSTON PECK THE POET'S SONG by ALFRED TENNYSON HAMPTON BEACH by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER PASSED BY by JOHANNA AMBROSIUS BLESS, DEAR SAVIOUR, THIS CHILD by THOMAS BECK INAUGURATION SONNET: ERNEST FOX NICHOLS by HARRY RANDOLPH BLYTHE |