Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE NATION'S COURAGE (WRITTEN IN THE WORLD WAR) by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS

First Line: AS THOU HAST KEPT OUR NATION, LORD
Last Line: LEAD THOU THE ARMIES OF THE RIGHT!
Subject(s): PRAYER; UNITED STATES; WORLD WAR I; AMERICA; FIRST WORLD WAR;

As Thou hast kept our nation, Lord,
From evil fates and sins abhorred,
Preserve it now from all the woe
Of inward shame and outward foe;
From base defeat and baser fear
Keep Thou the nation's annals clear.

Our fathers met embattled wrong;
Let us as well be bold and strong.
Our fathers died to keep us free;
So may we die for liberty.
Our fathers look upon us now,
And Thou, the heavenly Father, Thou!

No fairer land in any clime
Has called its men to deed sublime;
No nobler history has cast
Its high endowments from the past;
May we, our fathers' God, may we
Be true to them and true to Thee!

In holy faith and humble trust
We lift the banner of the just.
In confidence of brotherhood
We seek the universal good.
For Thee, O God, we dare to fight;
Lead Thou the armies of the right!



Home: PoetryExplorer.net