JUNE, 1866. <br /> <br />BREATHE thro' me in music, <br />Spirit of the time! <br />Pregnant with the future, <br />Spirit of the time! <br /> <br />As the west wind sougheth, <br />Through the swaying pine, <br />Sweep tho' all my branches <br />With thy song divine. <br /> <br />Nations now are rolling <br />Onward, as the sea <br />Which the moon upheaveth, <br />Thus upheaved by thee. <br /> <br />Muffled mutt'ring groweth <br />Louder on the air! <br />Like a lion roaring, <br />Rising from his lair. <br /> <br />As the anthem surgeth <br />Through cathedral aisles, <br />Swells the voice of nations <br />Over miles of miles. <br /> <br />As the thunder growleth <br />In yon cloud afar, <br />In their bosoms broodeth <br />The black bolt of war. <br /> <br />Snap in twain your fetters, <br />Cleave your ancient yoke, <br />Burst the gloom of ages <br />With the lightning stroke. <br /> <br />Clap on clap, down-crashing, <br />Clatter crowd on crowd, <br />From Venetia's dungeons, <br />From the Roman shroud; <br /> <br />From the graves of Poland, <br />From Germania's plains, <br />From the death-pollution <br />Of imperial chains. <br /> <br />Feel yourselves as brothers, <br />Dare to think ye free; <br />And in dust will shiver <br />Thrones of tyranny. <br /> <br />Like night's phantoms, with'ring <br />'Neath the glance of dawn, <br />Kings and priests dissolveth <br />Your full-flashing frown. <br /> <br />Forward, sons of morning, <br />With a sacred ire! <br />Lead ye, like Jehovah, <br />In a pillar of fire. <br /> <br />Through the dreary desert, <br />Through the burning sand <br />Till, on shores of promise <br />And of peace, ye land. <br /> <br />Where a purer people, <br />Led by laws innate, <br />Shall, towards the heavens, <br />Tower in grander state. <br /> <br />Breathe and blow in music; <br />On, from clime to clime; <br />Baptize, with the Holy Spirit <br />Spirit of the time.<br /><br />Mathilde Blind<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/invocation-21/
