Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO ABRAHAM LINCOLN, by JOHN JAMES PIATT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO ABRAHAM LINCOLN, by                    
First Line: Stern be the pilot in the dreadful hour
Last Line: Made by god's providence the anointed one.
Variant Title(s): Sonnet In 1862
Subject(s): American Civil War; Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865); Presidents, United States; U.s. - History


STERN be the pilot in the dreadful hour
When a great nation, like a ship at sea
With the wroth breakers whitening at her lee,
Feels her last shudder if her helmsman cower;
A godlike manhood be his mighty dower!
Such and so gifted, Lincoln, mayst thou be
With thy high wisdom's low simplicity
And awful tenderness of voted power.
From our hot records then thy name shall stand
On Time's calm ledger out of passionate days --
With the pure debt of gratitude begun,
One of the many of a mighty Land,
Made by God's providence the Anointed One.






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