God Give Us Men

By Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819-1881) God, give us men

A time like this demands
Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands;
Men whom the lust of office does not kill;
Men whom the spoils of office can not buy;
Men who possess opinions and a will;
Men who have honor; men who will not lie
Men who can stand before a demagogue
And damn his treacherous flatteries without winking!
Tall men, sun-crowned, who live above the fog
In public duty and private thinking;
For while the rabble, with their thumb-worn creeds,
Their large professions and little deeds,
Mingle in selfish strife, lo! Freedom weeps,
Wrong rules the land, and waiting
Justice sleeps. 


Experiment: This Tuesday, November 4, print out this poem, stand outside facing east (where the sun rises, i.e., hope – not hopey-changey hope, but real hope), recite three times, striking your breast between recitals, then hang your head low for a moment of silence, and return inside.

We’ll see what the electorate gives us in six weeks.