Classic Poem

From West to East, a sudden splendor breaking
Proclaims the advent of another day
Sacred to Freedom! newer hopes awaking
In distant nations, who behold her ray.

Lighting our shores with undiminished glory,
Still undiminished in the lapse of years,
And making grander yet the oft-told story
Of all our fathers won through blood and tears.

Our brave forefathers! few of their bright number
Remain to claim our reverence and our love,
In honored graves their war-worn bodies slumber,
In blessed mansions rest their souls above.

To keep their memories is our holy duty —
To them we owe this heritage of peace,
These fair possessions, these broad realms of beauty,
To which Time lends a bounteous increase.

No tyrant's hand can rob us of dominion;
No conqueror desolate our fruitful vales;
High soars our eagle with unruffled pinion;
Bravely our banner meets opposing gales.

Here are no slaves of old-world, dead convention,
Our motto, " Freedom come to all mankind! "
No interference, but firm intervention,
When men their fellows would in fetters bind.

When kings to Freedom's spirit bid defiance,
And trample down the people like base weeds,
And join their forces in unblessed alliance,
To wage a warfare of unrighteous deeds, —

Then to the nations cry we — Be strong-hearted;
Be bold and resolute, and full of trust;
The might of freedom has not yet departed,
Nor her high altars level with the dust.

Her starry flag shall float above your legions —
Beneath its folds the doves of Peace repose;
Her power and glory shall pervade your regions,
And make your deserts blossom like the rose.

What though for long, long years of toil and strife,
Subjects and serfs your generations be,
Hope on, and struggle while there yet is life —
If not yourselves — your children shall be free.

Auspicious hour! all noble thoughts inspiring,
Well may we triumph at thy glad return —
Each mind and heart with loftier impulse firing,
Causing each breast with warmer love to burn, —

The love of country! Time cannot efface it,
Nor distance dim its Heaven-descended light —
Nor adverse Fame nor Fortune e'er deface it —
It dreads no tempest, and it knows no night.