Poems by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper Part 14

Do not cheer till arbitration O'er the nations holds its sway, And the century now closing Ushers in a brighter day.

Do not cheer until the nation Shall more wise and thoughtful grow Than to staunch a stream of sorrow By an avalanche of woe.

Do not cheer until each nation Sheathes the sword and blunts the spear, And we sing aloud for gladness: Lo, the reign of Christ is here,

And the banners of destruction From the battlefield are furled, And the peace of G.o.d descending Rests upon a restless world.

90 THE BURDENS OF ALL.

THE BURDENS OF ALL.

We may sigh o'er the heavy burdens Of the black, the brown and white; But if we all clasped hands together The burdens would be more light.

How to solve life's saddest problems, Its weariness, want and woe, Was answered by One who suffered In Palestine long ago.

He gave from his heart this precept, To ease the burdens of men, "As ye would that others do to you Do ye even so to them."

Life's heavy, wearisome burdens Will change to a gracious trust When men shall learn in the light of G.o.d To be merciful and just.

Where war has sharpened his weapons, And slavery masterful had, Let white and black and brown unite To build the kingdom of G.o.d.

And never attempt in madness To build a kingdom or state, Through greed of gold or l.u.s.t of power, On the crumbling stones of hate.

The burdens will always he heavy, The suns.h.i.+ne fade into night, Till mercy and justice shall cement The black, the brown and the white.

And earth shall answer with gladness, The herald angel's refrain, When "Peace on earth, good will to men"

Was the burden of their strain.