We wait beneath the furnace-blastThe pangs of transformation;Not painlessly doth God recastAnd mould anew the nation.Hot burns the fireWhere wrongs expire;Nor spares the handThat from the landUproots the ancient evil.
The hand-breadth cloud the sages fearedIts bloody rain is dropping;The poison plant the fathers sparedAll else is overtopping.East, West, South, North,It curses the earth;All justice dies,And fraud and liesLive only in its shadow.
What gives the wheat-field blades of steel?What points the rebel cannon?What sets the roaring rabble's heelOn the old star-spangled pennon?What breaks the oathOf the men o' the South?What whets the knifeFor the Union's life?—Hark to the answer: Slavery!
Then waste no blows on lesser foesIn strife unworthy freemen.God lifts to-day the veil, and showsThe features of the demonO North and South,Its victims both,Can ye not cry,"Let slavery die!"And union find in freedom?
What though the cast-out spirit tearThe nation in his going?We who have shared the guilt must shareThe pang of his o'erthrowing!Whate'er the loss,Whate'er the cross,Shall they complainOf present painWho trust in God's hereafter?
For who that leans on His right armWas ever yet forsaken?What righteous cause can suffer harmIf He its part has taken?Though wild and loud,And dark the cloud,Behind its foldsHis hand upholdsThe calm sky of to-morrow!
Above the maddening cry for blood,Above the wild war-drumming,Let Freedom's voice be heard, with goodThe evil overcoming.Give prayer and purseTo stay the CurseWhose wrong we share,Whose shame we bear,Whose end shall gladden Heaven!
In vain the bells of war shall ringOf triumphs and revenges,While still is spared the evil thingThat severs and estranges.But blest the earThat yet shall hearThe jubilant bellThat rings the knellOf Slavery forever!
Then let the selfish lip be dumb,And hushed the breath of sighing;Before the joy of peace must comeThe pains of purifying.God give us graceEach in his placeTo bear his lot,And, murmuring not,Endure and wait and labor!
