 | Poems by Sarah Helen Whitman |  |
176
MEMORIAL HYMN.
WRITTEN FOR THE DEDICATION OF THE RHODE ISLAND SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT.
Raise the proud pillar of granite on high,
Graced with all honors that love can impart;
Lift its fair sculptures against the blue sky,
Blazoned and crowned with the trophies of art,—
Crowned with the triumphs of genius and art!
Long may its white column soar to the sky,
Like a lone lily that perfumes the mart,
Lifting its coronal beauty on high.
Graced with all honors that love can impart;
Lift its fair sculptures against the blue sky,
Blazoned and crowned with the trophies of art,—
Crowned with the triumphs of genius and art!
Long may its white column soar to the sky,
Like a lone lily that perfumes the mart,
Lifting its coronal beauty on high.
Sons of Rhode Island, your record shall stand
Graven on tablets of granite and bronze;
Soldiers and sailors, beloved of our land,
Darlings and heroes, our brothers and sons,—
Gray-bearded heroes and beautiful sons!
Soldiers and sailors, the flower of our land,
Deep as on tablets of granite and bronze,
Graved on our hearts shall your bright record stand.
Graven on tablets of granite and bronze;
Soldiers and sailors, beloved of our land,
Darlings and heroes, our brothers and sons,—
177
Soldiers and sailors, the flower of our land,
Deep as on tablets of granite and bronze,
Graved on our hearts shall your bright record stand.
Swell the loud psalm, let the war trumpets sound;
Fling the old flag to the wild autumn blast;
High in Valhalla our comrades are crowned;
There may we meet when life's conflicts are past,—
Meet in the great Hall of Heroes at last!
High in Valhalla our comrades are crowned.
Swell with Hosannas the wild autumn blast!
Let the full chorus of voices resound!
Fling the old flag to the wild autumn blast;
High in Valhalla our comrades are crowned;
There may we meet when life's conflicts are past,—
Meet in the great Hall of Heroes at last!
High in Valhalla our comrades are crowned.
Swell with Hosannas the wild autumn blast!
Let the full chorus of voices resound!
September 16, 1871.
| Poems by Sarah Helen Whitman | |