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Poem
January 1, 1831
The Liberator
Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
What is this article about?
A celebratory New Year's poem expressing joy in charity's blessings, while urging the year to bring an end to tyranny, war, intemperance, and idolatry, establishing Christ's supremacy worldwide.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
[For the Liberator.]
NEW YEAR'S DAY.
Brightest, merriest of days!
Welcomed in a thousand lays!
Not a heart but leaps for gladness,
Nor a brow that's veiled in sadness,
Not an eye that beams not brighter,
Not a step that is not lighter!
Day of joyful hopes and wishes,
Prodigal of gifts and kisses;
Want, with all his pining brood,
Leaps and sings for gratitude ;
Nakedness—a shivering claimant—
Now obtains a seemly raiment;
Sorrow wipes her tears away,
On a happy New Year's Day;
All the forms of sharp distress,
Charity's fair hand doth bless!
What awaits, O new-born Year!
On thy brief, untried career?
Pass not, till the world is free
From the yoke of tyranny;
Broken be th' oppressor's rod,
In the dust his throne be trod;—
Till the sea of human blood
Cease to roll its gory flood,
And the thundering tones of war
Echo not from lands afar ;
Till the scourge intemperance,
With its train, is banished hence ;
Of the fall the deadliest fruit,
Sinking man below the brute ;
Foulest of impurities,
Bloodiest of enemies,
Body-eater, soul-destroyer,
Universal plague—annoyer;—
Pass not, till, from sea to sea,
Christ shall gain supremacy;
Idols to the bats be given—
In their stead the Lord of heaven
Be consulted, loved, adored,
By a guilty race restored.
G. -n.
NEW YEAR'S DAY.
Brightest, merriest of days!
Welcomed in a thousand lays!
Not a heart but leaps for gladness,
Nor a brow that's veiled in sadness,
Not an eye that beams not brighter,
Not a step that is not lighter!
Day of joyful hopes and wishes,
Prodigal of gifts and kisses;
Want, with all his pining brood,
Leaps and sings for gratitude ;
Nakedness—a shivering claimant—
Now obtains a seemly raiment;
Sorrow wipes her tears away,
On a happy New Year's Day;
All the forms of sharp distress,
Charity's fair hand doth bless!
What awaits, O new-born Year!
On thy brief, untried career?
Pass not, till the world is free
From the yoke of tyranny;
Broken be th' oppressor's rod,
In the dust his throne be trod;—
Till the sea of human blood
Cease to roll its gory flood,
And the thundering tones of war
Echo not from lands afar ;
Till the scourge intemperance,
With its train, is banished hence ;
Of the fall the deadliest fruit,
Sinking man below the brute ;
Foulest of impurities,
Bloodiest of enemies,
Body-eater, soul-destroyer,
Universal plague—annoyer;—
Pass not, till, from sea to sea,
Christ shall gain supremacy;
Idols to the bats be given—
In their stead the Lord of heaven
Be consulted, loved, adored,
By a guilty race restored.
G. -n.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
Hymn
What themes does it cover?
Liberty Independence
Religious Faith
Temperance Moderation
What keywords are associated?
New Year
Charity
Tyranny
War
Intemperance
Christ Supremacy
Freedom
What entities or persons were involved?
G. N.
Poem Details
Title
New Year's Day.
Author
G. N.
Subject
New Year's Day
Form / Style
Rhymed Stanzas
Key Lines
Brightest, Merriest Of Days!
Welcomed In A Thousand Lays!
Not A Heart But Leaps For Gladness,
Nor A Brow That's Veiled In Sadness,
Pass Not, Till The World Is Free
From The Yoke Of Tyranny;
Broken Be Th' Oppressor's Rod,
In The Dust His Throne Be Trod;
Pass Not, Till, From Sea To Sea,
Christ Shall Gain Supremacy;
Idols To The Bats Be Given—
In Their Stead The Lord Of Heaven