A Hymn to the Peoples.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 35, 3 November 1911, Page 6

A Hymn to the Peoples.

"The following poem by W. E. Burghardt Dv Bois, the famous American negro, was read at the Universal Races Congress. In view of the Morocco crisis, we print this noble message to the white race from the black races," says the "Star" :— 0 Truce of God! And primal meeting of the Sons of Mam, v Foreshadowing the union of the From all the ends of earth we come! Old Night, the elder sister of the Day, Mother of Dawn in the Golden' East, . Meets in the misty twilight: with her brood,, Pale and black, tawny, rod and btoAvn, The mighty human rainbow of the world, . Spanning its wilderness : 6f storm., Softly in sympathy the sunlight falls, "Rare is the radiance of "the moon;. And on the darkest midnight blaze the stars — The far-flown shadows of whose brilliance Drop like a dream on the dim shores of Time, Forecasting Days that are to these As day to night. — So sit we all as one. So, gloomed in tall and stone-swathed groves, The Buddha walks with Christ, And Al-Koran and Bible both be holy! Almighty word! In this Thine awful sanctuary,; First and flame-haunted City of the Widened World, .

Assoil us. Lord of Lands and Seas I We are but weak and wayward men. Distraught alike with hatred and vain-. . glory; Prone to despise the Soul that breathes within^-High-visioned hordes that lie and steal and kill, • Sinning the sin each separate heart disclaims. . Clambering upon our riven, writhing selves. - Besieging Heaven by trampling men. to Hell! We be blood guilty I Lo, our hands be red! ..-..•-■. Not one may blame the other in this sin! But here- —here in th<i white Silence ox the Dawn, Before the Womb of Time, With bowed hearts all flame and shame,. We face.the birth-pangs of a world; We hear the stifled cry of Nations all but born— The wail of women ravished of their •stunted brood !- We see the nakedness of Toils the poverty of Wealth,. We know the. Anarchy of Empire, and doleful Dea/fch of Life! And hearing, seeing, knowing all, we cry: ' ' Save us,. World-Spirit, from otir lesser " selves! Grant us that war and hatred cease, Reveal our sduls in every race and hue! Help us, 0 Human God, in this Thy Truce. ....