God tramps on through the scourging rains; God vaults into the saddle, Rides alone past the dusty plains; God's back bends to the paddle— Cedar branches and sunlight through, And on, still on, speeds the lone canoe. God rides out on his ancient quest, Healing, saving, commanding: Here in the savage, unknown west Settlement, cabin, landing, Well they know the steady beat In the stillness of God's horse's feet. He leads to grace the pioneers Who walk each hour with danger! Knows these grim men for his peers Gives his bread to the stranger: Doing all that a neighbor can, God rides still, a weary man. God rides out! and founds three States, Their scourger, their defender, Guides their loves and tones their hates, Leads them into splendor. God—in the circuit rider's breast— Once more, God built a world—Our West. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SIXTEEN DEAD MEN by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE: 35 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING INSCRIPTION FOR THE ENTRANCE TO A WOOD by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT COUNT THAT DAY LOST by MARY ANN EVANS ITYLUS by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE BACCHUS AND THE FROGS by ARISTOPHANES THE UNKNOWN SHEPHERD'S COMPLAINT by RICHARD BARNFIELD |