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44
Washington
The Father of his country stood
And saw awake the glittering plain;
As morn on mountain height and wood
Returned to look again.
And saw awake the glittering plain;
As morn on mountain height and wood
Returned to look again.
As in his boyhood's earliest hour,
In nature's forest home untrod,
The noblest form of human power
Kneels childlike to his God.
In nature's forest home untrod,
The noblest form of human power
Kneels childlike to his God.
His sword, that through the battle cloud
Flashed terror on his country's foe,
Its lightening hides beneath the shroud
Of verdure waving low.
Flashed terror on his country's foe,
Its lightening hides beneath the shroud
Of verdure waving low.
He, who amid the battle's shock
Spoke calmness to the struggling brave,
And stood like sea-encompassed rock
Unshaken by its wave;
Spoke calmness to the struggling brave,
And stood like sea-encompassed rock
Unshaken by its wave;
Trusts not the warrior's proudest boasts—
The thunders of the tented field;—
He kneels before the God of hosts,
Of all that live the shield!
The thunders of the tented field;—
He kneels before the God of hosts,
Of all that live the shield!
From hence was kindled in thy breast
That holiest flame of Liberty;
That made thy country's cause the blest,
And gave her sons like thee.
That holiest flame of Liberty;
That made thy country's cause the blest,
And gave her sons like thee.
From hence it caught the sacred flame,
That lit with hope her deepest night;
And blazes still around thy name,
A halo of undying light!
That lit with hope her deepest night;
And blazes still around thy name,
A halo of undying light!
Poem No. 496; c. 20 August 1836
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