OH! with what pride I used To walk these hills, and look up to my God, And bless Him that it was so. It was free -- From end to end, from cliff to lake 'twas free -- Free as our torrents are that leap our rocks, And plough our valleys, without asking leave; Or as our peaks that wear their caps of snow, In very presence of the regal sun! How happy was I in it then! I loved Its very storms! Yes, Emma, I have sat In my boat at night, when, midway o'er the lake, The stars went out, and down the mountain gorge The wind came roaring -- I have sat and eyed The thunder breaking from his cloud, and smiled To see him shake his lightnings o'er my head, And think I had no master save his own! You know the jetting cliff round which a track Up hither winds, whose base is but the brow To such another one, with scanty room For two abreast to pass? O'ertaken there By the mountain blast, I've laid me flat along, And while gust follow'd gust more furiously, As if to sweep me o'er the horrid brink, And I have thought of other lands, whose storms Are summer flaws to those of mine, and just Have wish'd me there -- the thought that mine was free Has check'd that wish, and I have raised my head, And cried in thraldom to that furious wind, Blow on! This is the land of liberty! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WILLIAM AND HELEN by GOTTFRIED AUGUST BURGER SALLY IN OUR ALLEY by HENRY CAREY (1687-1743) SONG FOR JULY 12TH, 1843 by JOHN DE JEAN FRAZER ULTIMA THULE: MY CATHEDRAL by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW TRAVEL by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON |