Zion

Bitterness makes bitter hate
And with the hate unbounded fear
Thus “gentlemen” who love their state
Turn to their government deaf ear

Thus individuals may steer
The course and life of other men
And run them from their home, and jeer
And fire shots, and stand and grin

Thus so dark ages do begin
Women and children jouney far
To cross open prarie yet again
Viewed by light of single star

Yet hatred never stood to mar
The faithful and the most devout
While feet bled and muscles jarred
While children fell, not one cried out

They marched upon a blood-stained route
Not knowing where the path would lead
Knowing how torture came about
Refusing surrender to evil greed

As mud-faced men on dark black steeds
Brought death to smithy via chinks
Took weapons for their evil needs
And proved themselves the missing links

Yet while they celebrate with drinks
A life is saved, a boy may walk
Still they dream to make extinct
Still they rumble bitter talk

The drunken men step forth to stalk
The state gives strength and turns its head
As mortal bodies crumble to chalk
Men, women, children fall down, dead

But when the town is painted red
The people rise up, strong in heart
They listen to what has been said
And join together what falls apart

Move forth again to make new start
To build a temple far more great
Withstanding bullets and bitter darts
To love their God despite their state.

**For the martyrs and survivors of Haun’s Mill, Far West, in between, and forever after