WHEN
WILT THOU SAVE THE PEOPLE
‘WHEN
WILT THOU SAVE THE PEOPLE?’ is a poem written by the English poet Ebenezer
Elliott. He was born on 17th
March 1781 and passed away on 1st December 1849.
According to
his biographers Ebenezer was known as the Corn Law rhymer for
his leading the fight to repeal Corn
Laws, which were causing hardship and starvation among the poor and though a
factory owner himself his single-minded devotion to the welfare of the
labouring classes won him a sympathetic reputation long after his poetry ceased
to be read.
Like Walt Whitman, Ebenezer was a writer of genuine democratic feelings who
voiced the aspirations of the people in their own simple language.
“When
Wilt Thou Save The People?” seeks God’s mercy and forgiveness, not for kings and lords, but nations; not thrones
and crowns, but men whom he calls flowers of God’s heart. It is a lyrical hymn seeking
mercy for common men, and women , and children who are as fair as God’s own angels
.
At this time of world-wide Covid-19 pandemic,
when millions of lives have already been lost, this old hymn symbolically seeking mercy of
God to end any further loss of lives deserves
to be chanted by all of us.
THE POEM READS AS FOLLOWS
WHEN wilt thou save the
people?
O God of mercy, when?
Not kings and lords, but
nations!
Not thrones and crowns, but
men!
Flowers of Thy heart, O God,
are they;
Let them not pass, like weeds,
away,
Their heritage, a sunless day.
God, save the people.
Shall crime bring crime
forever,
Strength aiding still the strong?
Is it Thy will, O Father,
That man shall toil for wrong?
No, say Thy mountains; No, Thy
Skies;
Man’s clouded sun shall
brightly rise,
And songs ascend, instead of
sighs.
God save the people!
When wilt Thou save the
people?
O God of mercy. When?
The people, Lord, the people,
Not thrones and crowns, but
men!
God, save the people,
Thine they are,
Thy children as ‘Thine angels
fair.
From ice, oppression, and
despair,
God, save the people! *********
28th May 2021 G.R.Kanwal
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