Waiting For Day Poem by Alfred Gibbs Campbell

looked from the mountain height, and saw
Rapine assume the robes of law!


Justice I saw driven out apace,
While Robbery climbed to the highest place.


Humanity, trampled down in the street,
Lay bleeding beneath unholy feet.


And rulers, and priests, and people, all
Quickly responded to Rapine's call,


And shouted aloud, 'Henceforth art thou
The only God to whom we will bow.'


A chosen few there were, indeed,
Who would not swear to the robber-creed;


But disturbed the nation's wicked rest,
Pleading the cause of the poor oppressed;


And they were hissed, and hooted, and curst,
As though of all men they were the worst.


But they still kept faith in God, and some
Attested that faith by martyrdom.


Fair Freedom, wounded, hid away,
And dared not walk in the light of day;


But Rapine, bolder and bolder grown,
Swore that the nation was all his own:


And over it now his black flag waves,
A nation once free, - now a nation of slaves!


Its sun has set, and a starless night
Drops, like a curtain, before my sight!


I look again from the mountain height,
To catch the first gleam of morning light.


I hear the first shot of a distant gun,
Which speaks of a battle just begun -


The hurried tramp of armed hosts I hear,
Whose martial tread shakes a hemisphere.


By the cannon's fitful glare, I behold
Two banners over the field unrolled;


On one shine the stars with waning light;
The other is black as Slavery's night;


Two hostile armies, in battle array,
Each eager to enter the terrible fray;


But no sure gleam of coming morn
Through the gloom of this rayless night is borne.


Yet I know that a brighter day shall rise
To cheer our hearts, and gladden our eyes.


Justice and Law shall resume their sway,
While Rapine and Robbery slink away.


Humanity, lifted up from the dust,
No more by violence shall be crushed -


For Christ our Lord shall come and reign -
His glance shall shatter each poor slave's chain;


And whatever shall dare obstruct his path
Shall be swept away by Jehovah's wrath.


And that day, by prophets long foretold,
Shall its brightest glories all unfold!


For its speedy coming let us pray:
Oh! hasten, dear Lord, the perfect day!


March, 1862.