A Vision: American Gothic

Now a thing was secretly brought to me, in thoughts;
From a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth on a man;
A shudder of dread came upon me, and in stunned silence,
Did I behold the eagle's wings lifted on the four winds of heaven,
And a Word was accorded it: "Thy way is in the sea, and thy path
Is in the great waters; and thy footsteps are not known to thee."
The waters saw and were afraid, yea, even the deep trembled,
For it was made to stand as a man, and given a truth to feast upon;
Lifting its standard high, it drew everyman, as a beacon in the storm.
Thou hast heartily increased the nation, and not increased the joy;
They joy before Thee soley according to the joy of the harvest,
And as men rejoice when they plunder, and divide up the spoil.
They have not known or understood; for Thou hast shut their eyes,
That they cannot see, and their hearts, that they may not apprehend.
They have left off to be wise, and will not frame their doings to turn unto God;
For the spirit of whoredoms doth dance furiously in the midst of them:
They have not known the Lord, neither have they sought His way of peace.
Fornication, great of flesh, have they committed with all who would,
Increasing their harlotry and lewdness to provoke Him in His anger:
"Thou hast played the whore because thou wast insatiable;
Yea, thou played the harlot with them, and could not be satisfied.
Have ye not known? Have ye not heard? Hath it not been told you
From the beginning? Have ye not understood from the foundations
Of the earth? The axe shall boast itself against him that heweth threrewith!"
Therefore will He stretch out His hand over them to corrupt the land,
That thy yield will not nourish; commotion and anguish will grip thy cities,
As thine abundance flees from thee, as the mist in a mighty wind;
And their power will He dash with a shake of the rock, and a dagger left
In their midst; then will they be delivered up unto them that hate them,
And those who were ashamed of their ways will demand satisfaction.
"Calling a ravenous bird from a distant land, the man that will
Execute My counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it,
I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it."