Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, WRITTEN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, 1864, by ALICE CARY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WRITTEN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, 1864, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Once more, despite the noise of war
Last Line: For only such can save us now.
Subject(s): American Civil War; Fourth Of July; United States - History; Independence Day


ONCE more, despite the noise of wars,
And the smoke gathering fold on fold,
Our daisies set their stainless stars
Against the sunshine's cloth of gold.

Lord, make us feel, if so thou will,
The blessings crowning us to-day,
And the yet greater blessing still,
Of blessings thou hast taken away.

Unworthy of the favors lent,
We fell into apostasy;
And lo! our country's chastisement
Has brought her to herself, and thee!

Nearer by all this grief than when
She dared her weak ones to oppress,
And played away her States to men
Who scorned her for her foolishness.

Oh, bless for us this holiday,
Men keep like children loose from school,
And put it in their hearts, we pray,
To choose them rulers fit to rule.

Good men, who shall their country's pride
And honor to their own prefer;
Her sinews to their hearts so tied
That they can only live through her.

Men sturdy -- of discerning eyes,
And souls to apprehend the right;
Not with their little light so wise
They set themselves against thy light.

Men of small reverence for names,
Courageous, and of fortitude
To put aside the narrow aims
Of factor, for the public good.

Men loving justice for the race,
Not for the great ones, and the few,
Less studious of outward grace
Than careful to be clean all through.

Men holding state, not self, the first,
Ready when all the deep is tossed
With storms, and worst is come to worst,
To save the Ship at any cost.

Men upright, and of steady knees,
That only to the truth will bow;
Lord, help us choose such men as these,
For only such can save us now.





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