Time's Overthrow

SAMUEL JOHNSTONE MACDONALD

"There should be time no longer"

In dim, far-off, forgotten ages,
Ere Clio yet had found her pen,
Some one of earth's most cunning sages
Invented Time to mislead men.

Since then, so potent seem his fetters,
So firm sits Time upon his throne,
So prone are men his slaves and debtors,
They deem they live in Time alone.

But truly, men are not thus living,
Only deep dwelling in a dream:
To phantoms, life and action giving,
Reality to things that seem.

One half of men are but preparing
For life, and see it all awry;
One half, unburied phantoms bearing,
Are seeking only how to die!

And few live in the living present,
The only life 'tis ours to live;
But supine, prince, priest, peer, and peasant,
To Time their willing homage give.

The youth in time to come is dwelling,
Where hope's bright rainbow spans the sky,
His fervid fancy fondly telling
Of riches, fame, and pleasures high.

The aged, in the past abiding,
Find somber joys in memory,
In Time's sad rosary confiding,
And scoffing joys their children see.

The father in his son is living,
The son is only marking time;
The mother to the daughter giving
Her life's best, richest, fullest prime.

Thus, ever forward, backward, turning,
The race of men poor slaves abide,
Their bondage unto Time ne'er learning,
But in their fetters taking pride.

Let us awaken! Break each pinion:
Determine fully to be free!
Man is the heir of God's dominion,
By His unalterable decree.

In God alone have we our being,
God is our Life, our Truth, our All:
His love His children ever freeing,
From every bondage, yoke, and thrall.

In Him we live to-day, eternal,
We turn nor backward nor before;
But in the light of Truth supernal
We see Time is, shall be, no more.

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On Resolving Anew

December 30, 1922

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