The Days of Tyranny and Wrong Are Not Forever
Improvement Era, vol. 6, no. 8, June 1903, pp. 612 to 613
Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
THE DAYS OF TYRANNY AND WRONG ARE NOT FOREVER.
Can ye lengthen the hours of the dying night, Or chain the wings of the morning light? Can ye seal the springs of the ocean deep, Or bind the thunders in silent sleep? The sun that rises, the seas that flow. The thunders of heaven, all' answer — No! Can ye drive young spring from the blosSom'd earth,. Or the earthquake still in its awful birth? Will the hand on time's dial backward flee. Or the pulse of the universe cease for thee? The shaking mountains, the flowers that blow. — The pulse of the universe, answer No!
Can ye burn a truth in the martyr's fire. Or chain a thought in the dungeon dire; Or stay the soul as it soars away, To glorious life, from this mouldering clay? The truth that liveth, the thoughts that go. — The spirit ascending, all answer No!
priest! despot! your doom they speak, For God is mighty as ye are weak. Your night and your winter from earth must roll; Your chains must melt from the limb and the soul. Ye have wrought us wrong, ye have bro't us woe; Shall ye triumph much longer? We answer No! — Ye have built your temples, with gems impearled. On the broken heart of a famished world; Ye have crushed its heroes in desert graves. And made its children a race of slaves! O'er future age shall the ruin go? We gather against you, and answer —No!
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DAYS OF TYRANNY AND WRONG ARE NOT FOREVER. 613
But ye laugh in scorn from your shrines and towers, But weak are ye, the strength is ours! In gold, in arms, and in pride ye move; ,
— But we are stronger our strength is love! Can ye slay truth or love with a curse or blow? — The beautiful heavens, they answer No!
The winter night of the world is past; The day of humanity dawns at last! The veil is-rent from the soul's calm eyes, And prophets, and seers, and heroes arise! Their words and their deeds like the thunders go Can ye stifle their voices? They answer —No! It is God who speaks in their words of might;
'Tis God who acts in their deeds of right!
Lo! Eden waiteth like a radiant bride; Humanity springeth elate to her side! Can ye serve the twain who to oneness flow? The voice of Divinity answereth —No! Selected.