 | Poems by John Howard Bryant |  |
89
THE LITTLE CLOUD.
As when, on Carmel's sterile steep,
The ancient prophet bowed the knee,
And seven times sent his servant forth
To look toward the distant sea;
The ancient prophet bowed the knee,
And seven times sent his servant forth
To look toward the distant sea;
There came at last a little cloud,
Scarce broader than the human hand,
Spreading and swelling till it broke
In showers on all the herbless land.
Scarce broader than the human hand,
Spreading and swelling till it broke
In showers on all the herbless land.
And hearts were glad, and shouts went up,
And praise to Israel's mighty God,
As the sere hills grew bright with flowers,
And verdure clothed the naked sod.
And praise to Israel's mighty God,
As the sere hills grew bright with flowers,
And verdure clothed the naked sod.
Even so our eyes have waited long;
But now a little cloud appears,
Spreading and swelling as it glides
Onward into the coming years.
But now a little cloud appears,
Spreading and swelling as it glides
Onward into the coming years.
Bright cloud of Liberty! full soon,
Far stretching from the ocean strand,
Thy glorious folds shall spread abroad,
Encircling our beloved land.
Far stretching from the ocean strand,
Thy glorious folds shall spread abroad,
Encircling our beloved land.
90
Like the sweet rain on Judah's hills,
The glorious boon of love shall fall,
And our bond millions shall arise,
As at an angel's trumpet call.
The glorious boon of love shall fall,
And our bond millions shall arise,
As at an angel's trumpet call.
Then shall a shout of joy go up,
The wild, glad cry of freedom come
From hearts long crushed by cruel hands,
And songs from lips long sealed and dumb;
The wild, glad cry of freedom come
From hearts long crushed by cruel hands,
And songs from lips long sealed and dumb;
And every bondman's chain be broke,
And every soul that moves abroad
In this wide realm shall know and feel
The blessed Liberty of God.
And every soul that moves abroad
In this wide realm shall know and feel
The blessed Liberty of God.
| Poems by John Howard Bryant | |