Better Gutenberg
Free, beautifully formatted public-domain ebooks
‹Better GutenbergCaroling DuskThe Band of Gideon · 122 of 254Contents›

Caroling Dusk

by Countee Cullen

122 of 254 · Contents · Download EPUB

The Band of Gideon

The band of Gideon roam the sky,
The howling wind is their war-cry,
The thunder’s role is their trump’s peal,
And the lightning’s flash their vengeful steel.
          Each black cloud
          Is a fiery steed.
          And they cry aloud
          With each strong deed,
“The sword of the Lord and Gideon.”

And men below rear temples high
And mock their God with reasons why,
And live in arrogance, sin and shame,
And rape their souls for the world’s good name.
          Each black cloud
          Is a fiery steed.
          And they cry aloud
          With each strong deed,
“The sword of the Lord and Gideon.”

The band of Gideon roam the sky,
And view the earth with baleful eye;
In holy wrath they scourge the land
With earth-quake, storm and burning brand.
          Each black cloud
          Is a fiery steed.
          And they cry aloud
          With each strong deed,
“The sword of the Lord and Gideon.”

The lightnings flash and the thunders roll,
And “Lord have mercy on my soul,”
Cry men as they fall on the stricken sod,
In agony searching for their God.
          Each black cloud
          Is a fiery steed.
          And they cry aloud
          With each strong deed,
“The sword of the Lord and Gideon.”

And men repent and then forget
That heavenly wrath they ever met,
The band of Gideon yet will come
And strike their tongues of blasphemy dumb.
          Each black cloud
          Is a fiery steed.
          And they cry aloud
          With each strong deed,
“The sword of the Lord and Gideon.”

← Back to Caroling Dusk

Scroll to Top