The Awakening Poem by Burne White

They gathered on the mountainside; Falwell, Hyde and Reed
To take away the precious gifts that God had man bequeathed.
With great anticipation of heav’n sent inspiration,
They circled ‘round a burning bush and raised their eyes to heaven.

From the cloudless sky the lightening
Did stir up their minds most frightening.
There in a swirl of utter confusion
And in a cauldron of self-delusion

“We think we’ve found the right solution
That draws us straight to this conclusion:
We’ll do God’s work, He needs enlight’ning
To punish men delighting
In the pleasures of this world.

We’ll cut them out and all their kin
We’ll make it hot for those who sin
We’ll make new laws that make it likely
No one can ignore us lightly.

Knowledge, freedom, human nature,
Free acceptance of our neighbor
Those are plagues which must be stricken
If man hopes to enter heaven.”