Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, WAKE, MASSACHUSETTS, by MARION PERHAM GALE


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WAKE, MASSACHUSETTS, by                    
First Line: This place has known a sturdy growth of men
Last Line: Set the glance backward! To our grandsires, hail!
Subject(s): Army - United States; Freedom; Gratitude; Statesmen; Liberty


This place has known a sturdy growth of men;
These purposed seas have flown a steady sail!
Are we, the children of this Bay State, then
Of weaker stuff, for heritage too frail?

Where is the blood that fired our noble sires?
Has it burned down to less than cinder's worth?
Where is the tongue that sang . . . the high desires
That blossomed to a quick courageous birth?

Where is our gratitude? Are we so blind,
So drunk with pleasure, that this bell of years
Calls to a cold and senseless common mind,
Too cheaply masked to dare remembered tears?

A thousand, thousand names wear on the stone
For us to read, and reading wake to shame!
Behold the gift that cost this wealth of bone . . .
These graves are seals that fixed a nation's name!

Hancock and Dudley, Wigglesworth and Green,
Mather and Adams, . . . men who fed this sod
With seeds of courage and with sober mien
Lighted their torches with the word of God.

Nor man alone brought this bleak shore to flower.
Here women toiled from early sun to sun,
Laying their mite of strength against the hour
When time would reap the harvest well begun.

The tread of armies is no longer heard
Upon these hills, nor thrust of bayonet
Writes with youths' blood the fierce avenging word
Upon these streets . . . but, can our hearts forget?

All that we are we owe to those who came
Three hundred years ago, to mark this place
A happy haven where true freedom's name
Should stand and flourish for the further race.

Wake, Massachusetts! Break this stubborn pride,
This cold indifferent aspect . . . prove the lie
To those who, lost to duty, seek to hide
Our sacred banner from the seeing sky.

Wake, Massachusetts people! This the hour
Of challenge! Rend this vain and sombre veil!
Let the loud echo ring . . . the cold heart flower!
Set the glance backward! To our grandsires, Hail!





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