Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE PRESS, by EBENEZER ELLIOTT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE PRESS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: God said - 'let there be light'
Last Line: The press! The press! The press!
Alternate Author Name(s): Corn-law Rhymer; Elliot, Ebenezer


GOD said -- "Let there be light!"
Grim darkness felt his might,
And fled away;
Then startled seas and mountains cold
Shone forth, all bright in blue and gold,
And cried -- "'T is day! 't is day!"
"Hail, holy light!" exclaim'd
The thunderous cloud, that flamed
O'er daises white;
And lo! the rose, in crimson dress'd,
Lean'd sweetly on the lily's breast;
And, blushing, murmur'd -- "Light."
Then was the skylark born;
Then rose the embattled corn;
Then floods of praise
Flow'd o'er the sunny hills of noon;
And then, in stillest night, the moon
Pour'd forth her pensive lays.
Lo, heaven's bright bow is glad!
Lo, trees and flowers all clad
In glory, bloom!
And shall the mortal sons of God
Be senseless as the trodden clod,
And darker than the tomb?
No, by the mind of man!
By the swart artisan!
By God, our Sire!
Our souls have holy light within.
And every form of grief and sin
Shall see and feel its fire.
By earth, and hell, and heaven,
The shroud of souls is riven!
Mind, mind alone
Is light, and hope, and life, and power!
Earth's deepest night, from this bless'd hour,
The night of minds is gone!
"The Press!" all lands shall sing;
The Press, the Press we bring,
All lands to bless:
O pallid Want! O Labour stark!
Behold, we bring the second ark!
The Press! the Press! the Press!





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