Lead Us to the East
Donald P. Goodman III
Version 1.0,
O father! turn not back! but lead us to the East!
I long to feel upon my face the rising light
and thaw in warming rays my fingers, made to fight,
and bask in happy brightness with my strength increased,
and leave in dark forgotten time the wretched beast
that fears the sun, whose days surrender to the night
and scatter like the shadows from the world of sight
and vanish in the West, to nothingness decreased!
O father! turn not back! And lead us to the sun!
Behind us is but vanity; it's light we need!
With song and joy we follow, howe'er far you run!
so turn not back to darkness, father! You must lead!