“I Dream a World” by Langston Hughes

            I dream a world where man
            No other man will scorn,
            Where love will bless the earth
            And peace its paths adorn
            I dream a world where all
            Will know sweet freedom’s way,
            Where greed no longer saps the soul
            Nor avarice blights our day.
            A world I dream where black or white,
            Whatever race you be,
            Will share the bounties of the earth
            And every man is free,
           Where wretchedness will hang its head
           And joy, like a pearl,
           Attends the needs of all mankind—
          Of such I dream, my world!

The words of Langston Hughes

 

R: So our eyes are on You, O God.

 

To You have I lifted up my eyes,

         You who dwell in the heavens.

Behold, like the eyes of slaves

         ate on the hand of their master.

 

R: So our eyes are on You, O God.

 

Like the eyes of servants

         on the hand of their mistress.

So our eyes ate on You, O God,

         till You show us Your mercy.

 

R: So our eyes are on You, O God.

 

Have mercy on us, O God!  Have mercy!

         We have endured  much contempt.

Indeed, all too full is our soul

         with scorn from the rich,

         with scorn from the proud.

 

R: So our eyes are on You, O God.