Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE BARTHOLDI STATUE, by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER


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THE BARTHOLDI STATUE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: The land, that, from the rule of kings
Last Line: Who shields his license with thy name!
Subject(s): Art & Artists; Freedom; Patriotism; Statue Of Liberty; Liberty


THE land, that, from the rule of kings,
In freeing us, itself made free,
Our Old World Sister, to us brings
Her sculptured Dream of Liberty:

Unlike the shapes on Egypt's sands
Uplifted by the toil-worn slave,
On Freedom's soil with freemen's hands
We rear the symbol free hands gave.

O France, the beautiful! to thee
Once more a debt of love we owe:
In peace beneath thy Colors Three,
We hail a later Rochambeau!

Rise, stately Symbol! holding forth
Thy light and hope to all who sit
In chains and darkness! Belt the earth
With watch-fires from thy torch up-lit!

Reveal the primal mandate still
Which Chaos heard and ceased to be,
Trace on mid-air th' Eternal Will
In signs of fire: "Let man be free!"

Shine far, shine free, a guiding light
To Reason's ways and Virtue's aim,
A lightning-flash the wretch to smite
Who shields his license with thy name!





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