To-Day and To-Morrow

High hopes that burn'd like Stars sublime,
Go down i' the Heavens of Freedom;
And true hearts perish in the time
We bitterliest need 'em!
But never sit we down and say
There's nothing left but sorrow:
We walk the Wilderness To-day,
The Promised Land To-morrow.

Our birds of song are silent now,
There are no flowers blooming!
Yet life is in the frozen bough,
And Freedom's Spring is coming!
And Freedom's tide comes up alway,
Tho' we may strand in sorrow:
And our good Bark, a-ground To day,
Shall float again To-morrow.

Thro' all the long, dark night of years
The People's cry ascendeth,
And Earth is wet with blood and tears;
But our meek sufferance endeth!
The Few shall not for ever sway,
The Many moil in sorrow:
The Powers of Hell are strong To-day,
But Christ shall rise To-morrow.

Tho hearts brood o'er the Past, our eyes
With smiling Futures glisten!
For, lo! our day bursts up the skies:
Lean out your souls and listen!
The world rolls Freedom's radiant way,
And ripens with her sorrow:
Keep heart! who bear the Cross To-day,
Shall wear the Crown To-morrow.

O Youth! flame-earnest, still aspire,
With energies immortal!
To many a heaven of Desire,
Our yearning opes a portal!
And tho' Age wearies by the way,
And hearts break in the furrow,
We'll sow the golden grain To-day, —
The Harvest comes To-morrow.

Build up heroic lives, and all
Be like a sheathen sabre,
Ready to flash out at God's call,
O Chivalry of Labour!
Triumph and Toil are twins: and aye
Joy suns the cloud of Sorrow;
And 'tis the martyrdom To-day,
Brings victory To-morrow.