Vox Populi
I.
How long, O God, how long shall we,
The chosen of Thy race,
Wail in the night for Light to see
The glory of Thy Face?
How long shall Death usurp Thy throne,
While clouds of sorrow gather?
Hearken, O God! Thy children moan
In darkness for their Father!
II.
How long shall this foul Upas-tree,
Hung with the butcher'd dead,
Cast on Thy Cross of Calvary
Its shadow dark and dread?
As high as Heaven its branches rise
While those black fruits swing under,
And yet no Hand from yonder skies
Tears the black boughs asunder!
III.
How long into our lives shall eat
The leprosy of Lust,
While all things pure and fair and sweet
Turn into strumous dust?
Crush'd 'neath the Leper's conquering feet
Crouches the white Slave, Woman,
While silently from street to street
Glide hucksters of the Human!
IV.
Under Thy Cross the Throne still stands,
A Woman sits thereon;
Beneath her cling with feeble hands
Her brethren, woe-begone;
No help, no succour from on high,
To bless their souls bereaven ...
My God! they drag them thence to die,
While Thou art dumb in Heaven!
V.
The Atheist and the Priest, O Lord,
Unite to forge our chains!
Under Thy Cross, arm'd with Thy Sword,
Judge Ananias reigns!
Thy Priests stand by and make no sign,
Thy Church lies mute and broken,
And that they know no Light Divine
Thy Gallows stands for token!
VI.
Reach out Thy Hand, snatch back Thy Sword!
God of the quick and dead!
Crush down these Upas-trees, O Lord,
To dust beneath Thy tread!
Each leaf of life that trembles there,
Withering broken-hearted,
Attests, despite a Nation's prayer,
Thy glory hath departed!
VII.
How long shall Man's dark law abide
And Thine be closely seal'd,
How long shall Truth and Mercy hide
Forgotten, unreveal'd?
See, o'er this Flood whereon we move
Burns War's red Bow of Slaughter!
And still no sign of Thy White Dove
Upon the crimson water!
VIII.
Come from the darkness of the Deep,
Open the Heavens up there,
We charge Thee, by these tears we weep,
And by these chains we bear!
Death rules Thine earth despite our cries,
Heaven's Throne, too, is assailed, —
While from His stricken children's eyes
The Father's Face is veiled ...
How long, O Lord, how long?
How long, O God, how long shall we,
The chosen of Thy race,
Wail in the night for Light to see
The glory of Thy Face?
How long shall Death usurp Thy throne,
While clouds of sorrow gather?
Hearken, O God! Thy children moan
In darkness for their Father!
II.
How long shall this foul Upas-tree,
Hung with the butcher'd dead,
Cast on Thy Cross of Calvary
Its shadow dark and dread?
As high as Heaven its branches rise
While those black fruits swing under,
And yet no Hand from yonder skies
Tears the black boughs asunder!
III.
How long into our lives shall eat
The leprosy of Lust,
While all things pure and fair and sweet
Turn into strumous dust?
Crush'd 'neath the Leper's conquering feet
Crouches the white Slave, Woman,
While silently from street to street
Glide hucksters of the Human!
IV.
Under Thy Cross the Throne still stands,
A Woman sits thereon;
Beneath her cling with feeble hands
Her brethren, woe-begone;
No help, no succour from on high,
To bless their souls bereaven ...
My God! they drag them thence to die,
While Thou art dumb in Heaven!
V.
The Atheist and the Priest, O Lord,
Unite to forge our chains!
Under Thy Cross, arm'd with Thy Sword,
Judge Ananias reigns!
Thy Priests stand by and make no sign,
Thy Church lies mute and broken,
And that they know no Light Divine
Thy Gallows stands for token!
VI.
Reach out Thy Hand, snatch back Thy Sword!
God of the quick and dead!
Crush down these Upas-trees, O Lord,
To dust beneath Thy tread!
Each leaf of life that trembles there,
Withering broken-hearted,
Attests, despite a Nation's prayer,
Thy glory hath departed!
VII.
How long shall Man's dark law abide
And Thine be closely seal'd,
How long shall Truth and Mercy hide
Forgotten, unreveal'd?
See, o'er this Flood whereon we move
Burns War's red Bow of Slaughter!
And still no sign of Thy White Dove
Upon the crimson water!
VIII.
Come from the darkness of the Deep,
Open the Heavens up there,
We charge Thee, by these tears we weep,
And by these chains we bear!
Death rules Thine earth despite our cries,
Heaven's Throne, too, is assailed, —
While from His stricken children's eyes
The Father's Face is veiled ...
How long, O Lord, how long?
Translation:
Language:
Reviews
No reviews yet.