The Fast Day !
How’s this that they whose lives have all been past1
In nought but feasting, now proclaim a Fast ;2
A Fast ! a General Fast ! a Fast for all !3
No doubt the pious souls have had a call ;4
A call as heav’nly as of Irving’s crew,5
A call which Satan gives his chosen few ;6
Not vile hypocrisy, nor saintly cant,7
Nor Fasting, will administer to want :8
No, no—those who have the evil brought about,9
Those who have fann’d the flame, must put it out.10
We want no Fast—but Radical Reform,11
This, this alone will check the threat’ning storm.12