Select Poetry

Otago Witness, Issue 904, 27 March 1869, Page 16

Select Poetry

THE GOLDEN CITY. BY DR. MACKAY. Oh the golden city, Shilling far away ; With its domes and steeples tall, And the sunlight over all ; With the waters of a bay, Dotted over with a fleet, Rippling gently at its feet ; Oh the golden city — so beautiful to see ! It shall open wide its portals. And I'll tell you if it be The city of the happy, The city of the free. Oh the glorious city, Shining far away ; In its boundaries every man Makes his happiness a plan, That he studies night and day, Till he thinks it not alone, like his property, his own ; Oh the glorious city— so beautiful to sse ! But spreads it round about him, Till all be blessed as he ; His mind an inward sunshine, And bright eternally. Oh the splendid city, Gleaming far away ; Every man by Love possessed Has a priest within his breast, And whene'er he kneels to pray, Never breathes a thought unkind Against men of other mind : Oh the glorious city— so beantiful to see ! But knows that God eternal Will shower his blessings free, On hearts that live to love Him, And cling to charity, Oh the gorgeous city, Shining far away ; Where a competence is bliss, And each man that lives has this For his labor of the day ; A labor not too hard, And a bountiful reward : Oh the glorious city — so beautiful to sea ! Where mighty wheels to aid him Revolve incessantly, And science gains to cheer him A daily victory. Oh the glorious city, Shining far away ; Neither Misery nor Crime, Nor the wrongs of ancient Time, Nor the haughty lust of sway, Ever come within its wall, To degrade or to enthrall : Oh the glorious city— so beautiful to see ! But Peace, and Love, and Knowledge, The civilising Three, Still prove by good that has been, The better that may be.