Where Restless Crowds Are Thronging

Where restless crowds are thronging
along the city ways,
Where pride and greed and turmoil
consume the fevered days,
Where vain ambitions banish,
all thoughts of praise and prayer,
The people's spirits waver:
But thou, O Christ, art there.

In scenes of want and sorrow
and haunts of flagrant wrong,
In homes where kindness falters,
and strife and fear are strong,
In busy streets of barter,
In lonely thoroughfare,
The people's spirits languish:
But thou, O Christ, art there.

O Christ, behold thy people
They press on every hand!
Bring light to all the cities
of our beloved land.
May all our bitter striving
Give way to visions fair
Of righteousness and justice:
For thou, O Christ, art there.

-Thomas Curtis Clark, 1877-1953