Reverberations Revised with a chapter from my autobiography. By W. M. W. Call |
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| II. |
WHAT DO THE PEOPLE WANT?
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 | Reverberations |  |
149
WHAT DO THE PEOPLE WANT?
What do the People want? you ask.
Are we, their rightful lords,
To work, while they refuse the task
That the great God awards?
Are we, their rightful lords,
To work, while they refuse the task
That the great God awards?
Are we to give our rights to them?
Are they to rule us now?
Shall kings put off their diadem,
And nobles guide the plough?
Are they to rule us now?
Shall kings put off their diadem,
And nobles guide the plough?
Nay, nay, the People do not ask
To change their place with you;
They love their work, they know their task,
Have souls to dare and do.
To change their place with you;
They love their work, they know their task,
Have souls to dare and do.
What do the People want?—True guides,
Kind words, and equal laws.
A People's king that still abides
True to the People's cause.
Kind words, and equal laws.
A People's king that still abides
True to the People's cause.
150
Oh, teach us well! Oh, rule us well!
Ye beautiful and strong!
Ye that in wisdom do excel,
Save us from woe and wrong!
Ye beautiful and strong!
Ye that in wisdom do excel,
Save us from woe and wrong!
We hear that we have souls like you,
To give and to receive;
They say we are immortal, too,
And this we half believe.
To give and to receive;
They say we are immortal, too,
And this we half believe.
Something we feel within us strive,
Something all wings and fire,
A life that is not yet alive,
A mother's large desire.
Something all wings and fire,
A life that is not yet alive,
A mother's large desire.
O nobles! teach us what we are,
And what we ought to be;
Teach what are sun and cloud and star,
And the great hungry sea.
And what we ought to be;
Teach what are sun and cloud and star,
And the great hungry sea.
Teach what is God—we feel him here,
Within our heaving breast;
Oh, that we were his children dear,
And you our brothers blest!
Within our heaving breast;
Oh, that we were his children dear,
And you our brothers blest!
Oh, that we were your brothers all!
Oh, that we had your love!
That ye would hear us when we call,
Like the dear God above.
Oh, that we had your love!
That ye would hear us when we call,
Like the dear God above.
151
That ye would guide us to far lands,
To sow the golden maize,
Would lead us in strong, silent bands,
Towards the western rays.
To sow the golden maize,
Would lead us in strong, silent bands,
Towards the western rays.
That ye would tell us what ye know
About this world of ours,
And make our thoughts and feelings grow
Pleasant and mild as flowers.
About this world of ours,
And make our thoughts and feelings grow
Pleasant and mild as flowers.
We, with our children and sweet wives,
Gentle and wise and fair,
Would tune and harmonise our lives,
Tranquil as windless air.
Gentle and wise and fair,
Would tune and harmonise our lives,
Tranquil as windless air.
| Reverberations | |