Classic Poem

Yes , there was land once more,
Tree-crowned and autumn-tinted,
Where they might stand once more
With room unstinted.

There lay the sandy shore,
Far-off, stormbeat by ocean;
Never men scanned a shore
With keener emotion.

Chart there was none to guide,
Yet well the master reckoned,
Having the sun to guide,
That Cape Cod beckoned.

Mariners had told of it,
Explorers full of venture
Tracing each fold of it,
Each curved indenture.

" This is Cape Cod? " they cried,
" We want the Hudson, the river. "
Trusting in God they cried,
" He will deliver!

" South; to the south it lies,
The Canaan we're here for;
At the flood's mouth it lies —
That we will steer for! "

Southward the captain turns,
To their desire obedient;
Shrewd is he, apt in turns,
Sly in expedient.

" Deangerous shoulds " he made,
Monomoy's " roaring breakers "
So these poor souls he made
Southland forsakers.

Sagadahoc had failed,
Settlers were sadly needed;
Only one flock had failed,
If these succeeded!

Gorges had bid for them —
Wily Sir Ferdinando!
Captain Jones did for them
All a man can do;

Saved them from foundering,
With the wind almost dying,
Tidebound and floundering,
Land-longing, sighing.

Glad, they put round again,
Escaping the dangers
They thought they had found again,
Weary sea-rangers.

Then they off shore (all night
Stars clear, of storm no warning)
Back and forth bore all night
Till broke the morning.

From all Time's olden dates,
This eleventh of November
Stands with the golden dates,
Day to remember.

Then first was signed the pact
That made a mighty nation;
God was behind the pact
In new creation.

Yes, then Democracy,
Star-crowned and freedom-dowered,
Child of Theocracy,
Splendidly flowered.