I AGAIN in unison we stand Before Thy throne with reverent head— We, people of Thy mountain-land, To thank Thee for our deathless dead— Prince, Poet, Peasant—those who made For us this heritage of pride, Building with sword and song and spade A land where freedom never died. II For this our Princes fought and failed, Our poets dreamed of this far goal, For this those saintly fathers sailed The great star-spaces of the soul— Keeping, amid the storm and strife And darkness of the uncharted years, The gleam that lit the way to life, The faith that vanquished doubt and tears. III Grant that we, too, shall seek and hear The voice that speaks on every hill, And, through Thy presence passing near, Find peace within Thy perfect will: Grant that we bear by scrap and steep The banners of that dawn unfurled When men shall march from out of sleep With songs that will awake the world. IV Lord, make us bold beneath Thine hand Yet humble with a great desire— Make us a torch—a flaming brand Fierce with imperishable fire— With burning vision that shall turn On ardent feet and soaring wings To where the waiting nations yearn For freedom from estranging things. V There is a murmur in the clod, The earth is tremulous with might, The changeless promises of God Are pulsing from the infinite: So, with the spring's green-thrusting throng We, too, our suppliant voices raise In token, with this pilgrim song— A nation's prayer, a nation's praise. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONG:SO WHY DOES THIS DEAD CARNATION by HAYDEN CARRUTH CRITIC AND POET by EMMA LAZARUS THE AWAKENING RIVER by KATHERINE MANSFIELD DILIGENCE IS TO MAGIC AS PROGRESS IS TO FLIGHT by MARIANNE MOORE |