 | Jones Very : The Complete Poems |  |
What Of The Night?
What of the night? O watchman! tell,
Who on the watchtower high doth stand;
What of the night? I hear it swell
In every tongue, from every land.
Who on the watchtower high doth stand;
What of the night? I hear it swell
In every tongue, from every land.
Lo! half the earth in darkness lies,
Millions to idols bend the knee;
When shall the day-spring bless their eyes,
And the deep gloom before it flee?
Millions to idols bend the knee;
When shall the day-spring bless their eyes,
And the deep gloom before it flee?
Nations that boast the Christian name,
Still meet as foes in bloody fight;
When shall they own their deeds with shame,
And in the ways of Peace delight?
Still meet as foes in bloody fight;
When shall they own their deeds with shame,
And in the ways of Peace delight?
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When shall they use the talents lent,
To elevate and bless mankind;
Each with its own domain content,
Each to its proper sphere confined?
To elevate and bless mankind;
Each with its own domain content,
Each to its proper sphere confined?
When shall the Church the risen Lord
Own as the Way, the Truth, the Life?
Walk in obedience to his Word,
And cease from every angry strife?
Own as the Way, the Truth, the Life?
Walk in obedience to his Word,
And cease from every angry strife?
When shall the year of Jubilee
Return to bless Columbia's soil;
And all her captive sons be free,
Who now in cruel bondage toil?
Return to bless Columbia's soil;
And all her captive sons be free,
Who now in cruel bondage toil?
The watchman saith, “The morning's nigh,
Awake, ye dwellers in the land!
The redd'ning dawn is in the sky,
And the Lord's kingdom is at hand.”
Awake, ye dwellers in the land!
The redd'ning dawn is in the sky,
And the Lord's kingdom is at hand.”
“I watched of old when Babylon fell,
And heard afar her mighty fall;—
But greater tidings now I tell
To all who shall for tidings call.”
And heard afar her mighty fall;—
But greater tidings now I tell
To all who shall for tidings call.”
Poem No. 780; c. 3 February 1855
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