Renascence: A Book of Verse — Hymn of Free Peoples

II

From North, from East and West;

Beneath the southern star;

In bonds of slavery opprest, In cruel arms of war.

III

From East, and South, and North;

From desert-cities shade, From living tombs of toil, come forth, Where rich man’s gold is made.

IV

From North, from West, and East, O starved and meagre-fed!

Be gathered to the equal feast The earth for all hath spread.

V

Beneath Life’s healing tree, Truth’s fountain’s crystal flow, Let all the Nations kindred be The joy of life to know.

VI

And let each soul rejoice, Who in that meat is strong;

And, hunger stayed, let heart and voice Be filled with a new song.

VII

For Freedom like the sun Hath risen on the world!

This hour a new age is begun— A stainless scroll unfurled.

VIII

Old things have passed away— The curse of gold, and gore;

The Law of Love all peoples sway, And war shall be no more.

IX

No more to joyless toil Shall Labour’s hands be chained;

No more shall Fraud have power to spoil Man’s equal rights regained.

X

One hope, one joy, one light, United all men know;

And from all lands with gathering might The voice of truth shall go: XI

And far and wide proclaim, Defying tyrants’ ban, Writ in all hearts, like tongues of flame— The Brotherhood of Man!

[Illustration: ·TWELVE·SONNETS·OF·LOVE]