Our Changing Times

If you’ve ever read my columns, you’ll know that my favorite poet is a dead poet by the name of Strickland W. Gillilan.  I’ve posted some of his work in my weekly columns.

This past week I learned of a new website, www.loc.gov, where one can peruse the content of any book in the Library of Congress in Washington.  I used the occasion to look up the book of poems by Gillilan titled Including Finnigin.  In it I ran across a poem I had never read before which reminded me of some of the email messages that circulate today. And for that reason I decided to share this column with some of you who do not usually see it.

The poem I am going to share was written over 100 years ago.  It might surprise you to learn that we were fighting the same battles over politics and religion that long ago. I know it surprised me. Nevertheless, here we have a prime example in a book published circa 1908 of the same questions that trouble us today.

Read the poem first and then I’ll have some summary comments about it.

So the controversy goes on, and though the subject changes ever so slightly, the battle continues unabated.  And yet… and yet, we still have mothers who teach “Now I Lay Me” even after all these years.

I have a verse to add to that of the late Mr. Gillilan, and I hope his soul will forgive me for my brash intrusion upon his genius. I only want to bring his thoughts and words up to date in the Twenty-first Century.

Now the words are “under God” in the pledge we often say.

They were added many years ago, our reverence God to pay.

We may wipe the slate; remove the words to take away His name,

But within the hearts of those of faith God stays there all the same.

For the words are just the language to express what’s in the heart,

And we need not write or say His name to implore God not depart.

Though the critics seek to banish God through time—and time again,

You cannot erase the spirit that lives on in righteous men.

(My apologies to the women. You are included in the last line, but it didn’t fit poetically)

Footnote: Is it any coincidence that the poem was inspired by the actions of a group from Chicago? – Just musing here…