Poems descriptive, dramatic, legendary and contemplative

Simms, William Gilmore (1806-1870)

VOL. I.

VOL. II.

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[IV. Would we recall our virtues and our peace]

Would we recall our virtues and our peace!
The ancient teraphim we must restore;
Bring back the household gods we loved of yore,

And bid our yearning for strange idols cease.
Our worship still is in the public way,—
Our altars are the market-place;—our prayer
Strives for meet welcome in our neighbor's ear,
And heaven affects us little while we pray.
We do not call on God, but man, to hear;—
Nor even on his affections;—we have lost
The sweet humility of our home desires,
And flaunt in foreign fashions at rare cost;
Nor God our souls, nor man our hearts inspires,
Nor aught that should to God or man be dear.

University of Virginia Library

[IV. Would we recall our virtues and our peace]