Poems of home and country Also, Sacred and Miscellaneous Verse |
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THE BIRTHDAY OF WASHINGTON. |
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 | Poems of home and country |  |
147
THE BIRTHDAY OF WASHINGTON.
Honored and loved, the patriot and the sage,
Born for thy own and every coming age,
Thy country's champion, Freedom's chosen son,—
We hail thy birth-day, glorious Washington.
Born for thy own and every coming age,
Thy country's champion, Freedom's chosen son,—
We hail thy birth-day, glorious Washington.
Nurtured in courage, industry, and truth,
Thy noble childhood, and thy generous youth,
Like spring's sweet blossoms on the sturdy tree,—
Gave early promise of the fruit to be;
And well it ripened, as the years rolled on,
And stood in manhood, glorious Washington.
Thy noble childhood, and thy generous youth,
Like spring's sweet blossoms on the sturdy tree,—
Gave early promise of the fruit to be;
And well it ripened, as the years rolled on,
And stood in manhood, glorious Washington.
Dark was the storm that gathered, far and wide,
When rose in threatening might the oppressor's pride,
And men, brave-hearted, stood in battle strong,
Resolved to avenge the right and smite the wrong.
Fierce was the fight, and many a hero fell;
Green are their laurels, and they earned them well.
Nursed in the lap of hardship, sternly taught
To value great ideas and high, free thought,
With noble sacrifice they staked their all,
To stand with Freedom, or with her to fall;
And many a patriot mother gave her son,
But one alone gave glorious Washington.
When rose in threatening might the oppressor's pride,
And men, brave-hearted, stood in battle strong,
Resolved to avenge the right and smite the wrong.
Fierce was the fight, and many a hero fell;
Green are their laurels, and they earned them well.
Nursed in the lap of hardship, sternly taught
To value great ideas and high, free thought,
With noble sacrifice they staked their all,
To stand with Freedom, or with her to fall;
And many a patriot mother gave her son,
But one alone gave glorious Washington.
Keep ye his memory green; preserve his fame;
Live in his spirit; love his honored name;
Teach lisping childhood how the warrior stood,
A tower of strength 'mid scenes of strife and blood.
Let men and mothers to their infants tell,
How Freedom triumphed and Oppression fell,
When he, the chieftain of the brave and free,
Led on our troops to joy and victory.
No son was his to bear his cherished name,—
No son, thank God! to bring his father shame;
But every patriot is a worthy son,
To bear thy name and title, Washington!
Live in his spirit; love his honored name;
Teach lisping childhood how the warrior stood,
A tower of strength 'mid scenes of strife and blood.
148
How Freedom triumphed and Oppression fell,
When he, the chieftain of the brave and free,
Led on our troops to joy and victory.
No son was his to bear his cherished name,—
No son, thank God! to bring his father shame;
But every patriot is a worthy son,
To bear thy name and title, Washington!
They wear their honors well, these sons of ours,
Trained by fierce fight to show sublimer powers;
Taught like the eagle, when the storm beats high,
With stronger wing to cleave the threatening sky,
And reach through raging winds the cliffs above,
Where dwell serenely liberty and love,
Grow strong, through toil, to bear our banners on,
As he once bore them, glorious Washington!
Trained by fierce fight to show sublimer powers;
Taught like the eagle, when the storm beats high,
With stronger wing to cleave the threatening sky,
And reach through raging winds the cliffs above,
Where dwell serenely liberty and love,
Grow strong, through toil, to bear our banners on,
As he once bore them, glorious Washington!
The storms will pass. The flag, in battle torn,
Will wear new honors, by our sons upborne;
Fast anchored on the Right, a glorious rock,
The cause of Freedom shall not feel the shock
That aims its force against the Ship of State.
Weak billows, vain your vengeance, vain your hate!
More patriot mothers have more sons to send;
More noble hearts have treasures still to spend;
More patriot sinews have more strength to give;
More loving hearts have loving lives to live,—
And Freedom shall not lack a faithful son
To track thy steps, O glorious Washington!
Will wear new honors, by our sons upborne;
Fast anchored on the Right, a glorious rock,
The cause of Freedom shall not feel the shock
That aims its force against the Ship of State.
Weak billows, vain your vengeance, vain your hate!
More patriot mothers have more sons to send;
More noble hearts have treasures still to spend;
More patriot sinews have more strength to give;
More loving hearts have loving lives to live,—
And Freedom shall not lack a faithful son
To track thy steps, O glorious Washington!
| Poems of home and country | |