Classic and Contemporary Poetry
YE SONS OF COLUMBIA, by THOMAS GREEN FESSENDEN First Line: Ye sons of columbia, unite in the cause Last Line: Till the continent sinks, and the ocean is dry! Subject(s): Napoleon I (1769-1821); United States - History | ||||||||
YE sons of Columbia, unite in the cause Of liberty, justice, religion, and laws; Should foes then invade us, to battle we'll hie, For the GOD OF OUR FATHERS will be out ally! Let Frenchmen advance, And all Europe join France, Designing our conquest and plunder; United and free Forever we'll be, And our cannon shall tell them in thunder, That foes to our freedom we'll ever defy, Till the continent sinks, and the ocean is dry! When Britain assail'd us, undaunted we stood, Defended the land we had purchas'd with blood, Our liberty won, and it shall be our boast, If the old world united should menace our coast: -- Should millions invade, In terrour array'd, Our libertic bid us surrender, Our country they'd find With bayonets lin'd, And Washington here to defend her, For foes to our freedom we'll over defy Till the continent sinks, and the ocean is dry! Should Buonapart' come with his sans culotte band, And a new sort of freedom we don't understand, And make us an offer to give us as much As France has bestow'd on the Swiss and the Dutch, His fraud and his force Will be futile of course; We wish for no Frenchified Freedom: If folks beyond sea Are to bid us be free, We'll send for them when we shall need 'em. But sans culotte Frenchmen we'll ever defy, Till the continent sinks, and the ocean is dry! We're anxious that peace may continue her reign, We cherish the virtues which sport in her train; Our hearts ever melt, when the fatherless sigh, And we shiver at Horrour's funereal cry! But still, though we prize That child of the skies. We'll never like slaves be accosted. In a war of defence Our means are immense, And we'll fight till our all is exhausted: For foes to our freedom we'll ever defy, Till the continent sinks, and the ocean is dry! The EAGLE of FREEDOM with rapture behold, Overshadow our land with his plumage of gold! The flood-gates of glory are open on high, And Warren and Mercer descend from the sky! They come from above With a message of love, To bid us be firm and decided; "At Liberty's call, Unite one and all, For you conquer, unless you're divided. Unite, and the foes to your freedom defy, Till the continent sinks and the ocean is dry! "Americans, seek no occasion for war; The rude deeds of rapine still ever abhor: But if in defence of your rights you should arm, Let toils ne'er discourage, nor dangers alarm. For foes to your peace Will ever increase, If freedom and fame you should barter, Let those rights be yours, While nature endures, For OMNIPOTENCE gave you the charter!" Then foes to our freedom we'll ever defy, Till the continent sinks, and the ocean is dry! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A VISIT TO GETTYSBURG by LUCILLE CLIFTON AFTER SPOTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE by DAVID FERRY ACROSS THE LONG DARK BORDER by EDWARD HIRSCH WALT WHITMAN IN THE CIVIL WAR HOSPITALS by DAVID IGNATOW THE DAY OF THE DEAD SOLDIERS; MARY 30, 1869 by EMMA LAZARUS MANHATTAN, 1609 by EDWIN MARKHAM THE DECISION (APRIL 14, 1861) by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE SPARROW HARK IN THE RAIN (ALEXANDER STEPHENS HEARS NEWS) by EDGAR LEE MASTERS DESCRIPTION OF A NEW ENGLAND COUNTRY DANCE by THOMAS GREEN FESSENDEN |
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