Lift Up Your Smile Toward The Risen Sun Poem by James Whitworth

Lift up your smile toward the risen sun,
Before the day that breaks falls on the land;
Its sequence of decay is almost done.

There lies the line that safe beyond we stand,
Where is conceived the many from the one;
Where is the night replayed in faultless hand.

Until the hour they meet consumes the sky,
Too, kings must favour’s darkened tones command.
Should not be taken for the soulless cry,

A voice grown from the earth reciting truth,
From the seminary of the sown seed,
Through the ceremonies of stolen youth.

Shall we dictate to gods how to decide?
If not, then over love mayn’t we preside -
Shall we dictate to gods how to decide!

Through the ceremonies of stolen youth,
From the seminary of the sown seed,
A voice grown from the earth reciting truth,

Should not be taken for the soulless cry;
Too, kings must favour’s darkened tones command,
Until the hour they meet consumes sky.

Where is the night replayed in faultless hand;
Where is conceived the many from the one -
There lies the line that safe beyond we stand,

Its sequence of decay is almost done:
Before the day that breaks falls on the land,
Lift up your smile toward the risen sun.