AMERICA! dear brother land! While yet the shotted guns are mute, Accept a brotherly salute, A hearty grip of England's hand. To-morrow, when the sulphurous glow Of war shall dim the stars above, Be sure the star of England's love Is over you, come weal or woe. Go forth in hope! Go forth in might! To all your nobler self be true, That coming times may see in you The vanguard of the hosts of light. Though wrathful justice load and train Your guns, be every breach they make A gateway pierced for mercy's sake That peace may enter in and reign. Then, should the hosts of darkness band Against you, lowering thunderously, Flash the word "Brother" o'er the sea, And England at your side shall stand, Exulting! For, though dark the night And sinister with scud and rack, The hour that brings us back to back But harbingers the larger light. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EPIGRAM: HERO AND LEANDER by JOHN DONNE ON THE DEATH OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN by PHILIP FRENEAU PHILOMELA: PHILOMELA'S ODE [THAT SHE SANG IN HER ARBOR] by ROBERT GREENE THE NIGHT [NICHT] IS NEAR [NIGH] GONE by ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE THE CHARACTER OF A HAPPY LIFE by HENRY WOTTON |