Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE NAME OF WASHINGTON, by GEORGE PARSONS LATHROP


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE NAME OF WASHINGTON, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Sons of the youth and the truth of a nation
Last Line: The name of washington!
Subject(s): Presidents, United States; Washington, George (1732-1799)


SONS of the youth and the truth of a nation,
Ye that are met to remember the man
Whose valor gave birth to a people's salvation,
Honor him now; set his name in the van,
A nobleness to try for,
A name to live and die for --
The name of Washington.

Calmly his face shall look down through the ages --
Sweet yet severe with a spirit of warning;
Charged with the wisdom of saints and of sages;
Quick with the light of a life-giving morning.
A majesty to try for,
A name to live and die for --
The name of Washington!

Though faction may rack us, or party divide us,
And bitterness break the gold links of our story,
Our father and leader is ever beside us.
Live and forgive! But forget not the glory
Of him whose height we try for,
A name to live and die for --
The name of Washington!

Still in his eyes shall be mirrored our fleeting
Days, with the image of days long ended;
Still shall those eyes give, immortally, greeting
Unto the souls from his spirit descended.
His grandeur we will try for,
His name we'll live and die for --
The name of Washington!





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