Classic Poem

An offering to the shrine of power
Our hands shall never bring —
A garland on the car of pomp
Our hands shall never fling —
Applauding in the conqueror's path
Our voices ne'er shall be;
But we have hearts to honour those
Who bade the world go free!

Stern ignorance man's soul had bound
In fetters rusted o'er
With tears — with scalding human tears —
And red with human gore;
But men arose — the MEN to whom
We bend the freeman's knee —
Who, God-encouraged, burst the chain,
And made our fathers free!

Light dwelt where darkness erst had been —
The morn of mind arose —
The dawning of that day of love
Which never more shall close:
Joy grew more joyful, and more green
The valley and the lea, —
The glorious sun from heaven look'd down,
And smiled upon the free!

Truth came and made its home below;
And universal love,
And brotherhood, and peace, and joy,
Are following from above:
And happy ages on the earth
Humanity shall see;
And happy lips shall bless their names
Who made our children free!

Praise to the good — the pure — the great —
Who made us what we are! —
Who lit the flame which yet shall glow
With radiance brighter far: —
Glory to them in coming time,
And through eternity!
They burst the captive's galling chain,
And bade the world go free!