When the people get to thinking, Mid the clamor of the world. Ancient Idols trembling, shrlnking From their pedestals are whirled, Mouldy evils, quavering, blinking, From their noisome dens are hurled. Just a bit of ruminating, Real thinking, not pretence. How it finds the nations waiting For a breath of common sense; How it widens, agitating Centre to circumference! Not a sham can stand before it. Not a lie can bear the brunt. Ridicule ''" it tramples o'er it; Naught it cares for form and wont; Bitter shafts that seek to score it Get an answer stem and blunt. Ah, the wrongs to Sheol slinking. Pushed by Thought's intrepid gun! Ah, the foulness, beaten, sinking At the rising of the sun. When the people get to thinking, And the hero deeds are done! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ON GOING UNNOTICED by ROBERT FROST THE UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE by JAMES GALVIN TO SAMUEL COLERIDGE UPON HEARING HIS 'SOME I FEEL LIKE A MOTHERLESS..' by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON UNDER THE CEDARCROFT CHESTNUT by SIDNEY LANIER SUGGESTED BY THE COVER OF A VOLUME OF KEATS'S POEMS by AMY LOWELL WAITER IN A CALIFORNIA VIETNAMESE RESTURANT by CLARENCE MAJOR |