Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE GREAT AIM, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Earth beareth many pangs of guilt and wrong
Last Line: Thy truth becomes an act, -- thy aspiration -- life.!
Alternate Author Name(s): Smith, Seba (e. Oakes), Mrs.; Oakes-smith, Elizabeth


EARTH beareth many pangs of guilt and wrong;
Hunger, and chains, and nakedness, all cry
From out the ground to Him, whose searching eye
Sees blood like slinking serpents steal along
The dusty way, rank grass, and flowers among.
His the dread voice -- "Where is thy brother?" Why
Sit we here weaving our common griefs to song,
While that eternal call, forth bids us fly
From self, and wake to human good? The near,
The humble, it may be, yet -- God-appointed!
If greatly girded, cast aside thy fear
In solemn trust, thou mission'd and anointed!
Oh! glorious task! made free from petty strife,
Thy Truth becomes an Act, -- thy Aspiration -- Life.!





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net