As o'er a sea untried and dark, Into the setting sun, Columbus drove his gallant barque Until a world was won, So into the west two hearts as strong As ever sat under a sail Into a wilderness deep and long Followed an unknown "Trail." O'er pristine prairies rolling wide Where roamed the buffalo, O'er parching sand and deep divide Hard by eternal snow, Past wolves and wildmen held at bay, And cataracts wild and grand, The "Star of Empire" led the way On to the mystic land. But the Trail at last ran into the tide That washes the wonderful West, Where the Oregon pours her waters wide On the "Peaceful Ocean's" breast. And they planted there the standard true That waves on high to-day— "They builded wiser than they knew" As they blazed the rugged way. For lo! a caravan in white With priceless pilgrim freight, Soon crowd the path, and wondrous sight, They build an empire great! Along the Trail so wild and bleak The harnessed lightnings play— And hark! I hear an engine shriek In triumph o'er the way. Now see them come! In tiers, on tiers, They throng the hill and vale, To view the growth of a hundred years Along the ancient Trail! The treasures of the East they bring, E'en from the fields of war, While wireless wizards on the wing Bring greetings from afar. Let pæans ring from "Golden State" To Yukon's golden shore! The world is waiting at our gate— Throw open wide the door! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...COUNTER-ATTACK by SIEGFRIED SASSOON TOUJOURS AMOUR by EDMUND CLARENCE STEDMAN DEJECTION by GRACE E. ALBRIGHT MEN OF GENIUS by MATTHEW ARNOLD THE TOY BALLOONS by EDNA BECKER NATALIA'S RESURRECTION: 6 by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT LINES FROM A NOTEBOOK - MAY/JULY 1811 by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE |