EN AVANT!
Reading edition
{656}
O God! let us not live these days in vain, This variegated life of doubt and hope; And though, as day leads night, so joy leads pain, Let it be symbol of a broader scope. God! make us serve the monitor within; Cast off the trammels that bow manhood down, Of form or custom, appetite or sin, The care for folly's smile or envy's frown. Oh! that true nobleness that rises up, And teaches man his kindredship to Thee; Which wakes the slaveling from the poison cup Of passion, bidding him be grandly free: May it be ours, in these the evil days, That fall upon our nation like a pall; May we have power each one himself to raise, And place God's signet on the brow of all! Not race nor color is the badge of slaves; 'Tis manhood, after all, that makes men free; Weakness is slavery; 'tis but mind that saves God's glorious image as he willed it be. Out of the shadows thick, will coming day Send Peace and Plenty smiling o'er our land; And the events that fill us with dismay, Are but the implements in God's right hand. Where patriot blood is poured as cheap as rain, A newer freedom, phoenix-like, will spring; Our Father never asks for us in vain: From noble seed comes noble harvesting. Then let, to-day, true nobleness be ours; That we be worthy of the day of bliss, When truth's, and love's, and freedom's allied powers Shall bind all nations with fraternal kiss. Would we might see, as did the saint of old, The heavens opening, and the starry throng Listening to have our tale of peace be told, That they may hymn man's resurrection song!