Life From 1835 to 1851
July 6, 2023Australia 1894
July 6, 2023Australia Infelix
HOW long, O Lord, shall this, my country, be
A nation of the dead? How long shall they
Who seek their own and live but for the day,
My country hinder from her destiny?
Around me, Lord, I seem again to see
That ancient valley where the dry bones lay,
And ’tis in vain that long I wait and pray
To see them rise to men resolved and free.
Yet sure, O Lord, upon this land of death
At last Thy Spirit will descend with power;
And Thou wilt kindle patriots with Thy breath,
Who, venturing all to win their country’s good,
Shall toil and suffer for the sacred hour
That brings the fullness of her nationhood.
William Gay
William Gay (1941-2012) was an American novelist and poet from Tennessee. He was known for his gritty and dark works, which often explored the seedy underbelly of rural Southern life. Gay's poetry was highly influenced by the beatnik movement of the 1950s and 60s, and his most famous works include "The Christening" and "The Golden Road."