The Field Fraternity When God’s warm justice is revealed— The Kingdom that the Father planned— His children all will equal stand As trees upon a level field. There each one has a goodly space— Each yeoman of the woodland race— Each has a foothold on the Earth, A place for business and for mirth. No privilege bars a tree’s access To Earth’s whole store of preciousness. The trees stand level on God’s floor, With equal nearness to His store. And trees, they have no private ends, But stand together as close friends. They send their beauty on all things, An equal gift to clowns and kings. They worry not: there is enough Laid by for them of God’s good stuff— Enough for all, and so no fear Sends boding on their blameless cheer. So from the field comes curious news— That each one takes what it can use— Takes what its lifted arms can hold Of sky-sweet rain and beamy gold; And all give back with pleasure high Their riches to the sun and sky. Yes, since the first star they have stood A testament of Brotherhood. The Errand Imperious Proud England brooding on the days to come— Mother of peoples and of song undying— Hears in all lands the doubling of her drum, Sees on all winds of the world her lone flag flying. And Russia, young, barbaric in her power, With untried tendons, cramped in all her length, Chafing in snowy lair, dreams of the hour When she shall loose on Earth her hairy strength. And Germany, whose blonde intrepid might Once sent her Saxon fire on every land, Hears the great Labor Angel down the night, Crying, “Behold, my judgments are at hand!” And elder kingdoms by the Midland Sea, Whose every crag has burned with battle fire, Feel the young pulses of the days to be, And hear far voices call them to aspire. But harken, my America, my own, Great Mother, with the hill-flower in your hair! Diviner is that light you bear alone, That dream that keeps your face forever fair. Imperious is your errand and sublime, And that which binds you is Orion’s band. For some large Purpose, since the youth of Time, You were kept hidden in the Lord’s right hand.