He shall be great who serves his country well. He shall be loved who ever guards her fame. His worth the starry banner long shall tell, Who loves his land too much to stoop to shame. Who shares the splendor of these sunny skies Has freedom as his birthright, and may know Rich fellowship with comrades brave and wise; Into the realms of manhood he may go. Who writes, "United States" beside his name Offers a pledge that he himself is true; Gives guarantee that selfishness or shame Shall never mar the work he finds to do. He is received world-wide as one who lives Above the sordid dreams of petty gain, And is reputed as a man who gives His best to others in their hours of pain. This is the heritage of Freedom's soil: High purposes and lofty goals to claim. And he shall be rewarded for his toil Who loves his land too much to stoop to shame. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AURENG-ZEBE, OR THE GREAT MOGUL: PROLOGUE by JOHN DRYDEN BUDMOUTH DEARS by THOMAS HARDY EMBLEMS OF LOVE: 19. THE HEART, LOVE'S BUTT by PHILIP AYRES THE LOVE SONNETS OF PROTEUS: 37. TO ONE WHO WOULD 'REMAIN FRIENDS' by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT TAKE YOUR CHOICE: AND PERHAPS GELETT BURGESS by BERTON BRALEY TO AUTUMN, NEAR HER DEPARTURE by SAMUEL EGERTON BRYDGES |