[Maize, the nation's emblem, in] Columbia's emblem Indian corn : a garland of tributes in prose and verse |
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 | [Maize, the nation's emblem, in] Columbia's emblem |  |
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MAIZE, THE NATION'S EMBLEM
Upon a hundred thousand plains
Its banners rustle in the breeze,
O'er all the nation's wide domains
From coast to coast betwixt the seas
Its banners rustle in the breeze,
O'er all the nation's wide domains
From coast to coast betwixt the seas
It storms the hills and fills the vales,
It marches like an army grand,
The continent its presence hails,
Its beauty brightens all the land.
It marches like an army grand,
The continent its presence hails,
Its beauty brightens all the land.
Far back through history's shadowy page
It shines, a power of boundless good,
The people's prop from age to age,
The one unfailing wealth of food.
It shines, a power of boundless good,
The people's prop from age to age,
The one unfailing wealth of food.
God's gift to the New World's great need
That helped to build the nation's strength,
Up through beginnings rude to lead
A higher race of men at length.
That helped to build the nation's strength,
Up through beginnings rude to lead
A higher race of men at length.
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How straight and tall and stately stand
Its serried stalks upright and strong!
How nobly are its outlines planned,
What grace and charm to it belong!
Its serried stalks upright and strong!
How nobly are its outlines planned,
What grace and charm to it belong!
What splendor in its rustling leaves!
What richness in its close-set gold!
What largess in its clustered sheaves,
New every year, though ages old!
What richness in its close-set gold!
What largess in its clustered sheaves,
New every year, though ages old!
America, from thy broad breast
It sprang, beneficent and bright,
Of all thy gifts from heaven the best,
For the world's succor and delight.
It sprang, beneficent and bright,
Of all thy gifts from heaven the best,
For the world's succor and delight.
Then do it honor, give it praise!
A noble emblem should be ours;—
Upon thy fair shield set thy Maize,
More glorious than a myriad flowers.
A noble emblem should be ours;—
Upon thy fair shield set thy Maize,
More glorious than a myriad flowers.
And let thy States their garland bring,
Each its own lovely blossom-sign,
But leading all let Maize be king,
Holding its place by right divine.
Each its own lovely blossom-sign,
But leading all let Maize be king,
Holding its place by right divine.
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