Classic Poem

From Northern tide
To bayon wide,
With homage meet
The old bell greet!
Uncovered stand
Through all the land
While chimes peal out
Its royal route!

Ring, Baltimore!
Thy Ches'peake shore
By nobler guest
Was never pressed.
With loyal pride
Swell free and wide
Thy chorus grand,
“My Maryland!”

Ring, Washington!
The bell that won
Triumphant fame
In freedom's name
Waits at thy gate
In sovereign state.
With anthem sweet
Columbia greet!

Ring, Richmond, ring!
Warm tribute bring,
Dominion old,
Where patriots bold
Oppression spurned,
With words that burned
From Sumter's strand
To Plymouth's sand.

Atlanta, ring!
Proud steeples swing
With welcome note
From brazen throat!
The bell salute
Whose lips, now mute,
Bade tyrants cower
To freedom's power.

Ring, New Orleans!
Fair queen of queens,
The centuries share
Thy reverend prayer.
God guard the bell
Which rang so well
Our nation's birth
And manhood's worth!