A million cities burning in my mind

Send thick black smoke in pillars to the sky.

The earth lets out a deep and mournful sigh,

Its children turned so violent, so unkind.

Though oft' I wish the smog would leave me blind,

So horrors nevermore may cross my eye,

Each shot, each blast, each pained, oppressèd cry

Just makes more clear the future we've defined.

But as my eyes are opened to the sight

Of war and hatred, struggling and strife,

I see a small but steady shining light

That beams out hope and dulls the spiteful knife.

Quick, all! Of any race, religion, name, 

Take up the mighty torch and guide the flame.