Andhethatwillthishealthdeny,Downamongthedeadmen,downamongthedeadmen,Down,down,down,down,Downamongthedeadmenlethimlie!
There\'sliquorleft;come,let\'sbekind,Anddrinktherichabettermind,Thatwhenweknockuponthedoor,Theymaybeoffandsaynomore.
Andhethatwillthishealthdeny,Downamongthedeadmen,downamongthedeadmen,Down,down,down,down,Downamongthedeadmenlethimlie!
Now,comrades,lettheglassblushred,DrinkwetheunforgottendeadThatdidtheirdeedsandwentaway,Beforethebrightsunbroughttheday.
Andhethatwillthishealthdeny,Downamongthedeadmen,downamongthedeadmen,Down,down,down,down,Downamongthedeadmenlethimlie!
TheDay?Ah,friends,lategrowsthenight;
Drinktotheglimmeringsparkoflight,Theheraldofthejoytobe,Thebattle—torchoftheeandme!
Andhethatwillthishealthdeny,Downamongthedeadmen,downamongthedeadmen,Down,down,down,down,Downamongthedeadmenlethimlie!
TakeyetanothercupinhandAnddrinkinhopeourlittleband;
Drinkstrifeinhopewhilelastethbreath,Andbrotherhoodinlifeanddeath;
Andhethatwillthishealthdeny,Downamongthedeadmen,downamongthedeadmen,Down,down,down,down,Downamongthedeadmenlethimlie!
ADEATHSONG
Whatcomethherefromwesttoeastawending?
Andwhoarethese,themarcherssternandslow?
WebearthemessagethatthericharesendingAbacktothosewhobadethemwakeandknow.
Notone,notone,northousandsmusttheyslay,Butoneandalliftheywoulddusktheday.
Weaskedthemforalifeoftoilsomeearning,Theybadeusbidetheirleisureforourbread;
Wecravedtospeaktotellourwoefullearning:
Wecomebackspeechless,bearingbackourdead.
Notone,notone,northousandsmusttheyslay,Butoneandalliftheywoulddusktheday.
Theywillnotlearn;theyhavenoearstohearken.
Theyturntheirfacesfromtheeyesoffate;
Theirgay—lithallsshutouttheskiesthatdarken.
But,lo!thisdeadmanknockingatthegate.
Notone,notone,northousandsmusttheyslay,Butoneandalliftheywoulddusktheday.
Hereliesthesignthatweshallbreakourprison;
Amidstthestormhewonaprisoner\'srest;
ButinthecloudydawnthesunarisenBringsusourdayofworktowinthebest.
Notone,notone,northousandsmusttheyslay,Butoneandalliftheywoulddusktheday.
MAYDAY[1892]
THEWORKERS.
OEarth,onceagaincomethSpringtodeliverThywinter—wornheart,OthoufriendoftheSun;
FairblossomthemeadowsfromrivertoriverAndthebirdssingtheirtriumpho\'erwinterundone.
OEarth,howa—toilingthousingestthylabourAndupholdesttheflower—crownedcupofthybliss,Aswheninthefeast—tidedrinksneighbourtoneighbourAndallwordsaregleeful,andnoughtisamiss.
Butwe,we,OMother,throughlonggenerations,Wehavetoiledandbeenfruitful,butneverwiththeeMightweraiseupourbowedheadsandcrytothenationsTolookonourbeauty,andhearkenourglee.
Unlovelyofaspect,heart—sickanda—wearyOntheseason\'sfairpageantalldim—eyedwegaze;
Ofthyfairnesswefashionaprison—housedrearyAndinsorrowwearovereachdayofourdays.
THEEARTH.
Ochildren!Otoilers,whatfoemenbeleaguerTheHouseIhavebuiltyou,theHomeIhavewon?
Fullgreataremygifts,andmyhandsarealleagerTofilleveryheartwiththedeedsIhavedone.
THEWORKERS.
Thefoemenarebornofthybody,OMother,Inourshapearetheyshapen,theirvoiceisthesame;
Andthethoughtoftheirheartsisasoursandnoother;
Itistheyofourownhousethatbringustoshame.
THEEARTH.
Areyefew?Aretheymany?WhatwordshaveyespokenTobidyourownbrethrenremembertheEarth?
Whatdeedshaveyedonethatthebondsshouldbebroken,Andmendwelltogetheringood—willandmirth?
THEWORKERS.
Theyarefew,wearemany:andyet,OourMother,Manyyearswerewewordlessandnoughtwasourdeed,Butnowthewordflittethfrombrothertobrother:
Wehavefurrowedtheacresandscatteredtheseed.
THEEARTH.
Winonthenunyielding,throughfairandfoulweather,Andpassnotadaythatyourdeedshallavail.
Andinhopeeveryspring—tidecomegathertogetherThatuntotheEarthyemaytellallyourtale.
ThenthisshallIpromise,thatIamabidingThedayofyourtriumph,theendingofgloom,AndnowealththatyewillthenmyhandshallbehidingAndthetearsofthespringintorosesshallbloom.
MAYDAY,1894
Cladistheyearinallherbest,Thelandissweetandsheen;
NowSpringwithSummeratherbreast,Goesdownthemeadowsgreen.
HerearewemettowelcomeinTheyoungaboundingyear,TopraisewhatshewouldhaveuswinErewinterdrawethnear.