O Thou whose equal purpose runs In drops of rain or streams of suns, And with a soft compulsion rolls The green earth on her snowy poles; O Thou who keepest in thy ken The times of flowers, the dooms of men, Stretch out a mighty wing above -- Be tender to the land we love! If all the huddlers from the storm Have found her hearthstone wide and warm; If she has made men free and glad, Sharing, with all, the good she had; If she has blown the very dust From her bright balance to be just, Oh, spread a mighty wing above -- Be tender to the land we love! When in the dark eternal tower The star-clock strikes her trial hour, And for her help no more avail Her sea-blue shield, her mountain-mail, But sweeping wide, from gulf to lakes, The battle on her forehead breaks, Throw Thou a thunderous wing above -- Be lightning for the land we love! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MY FATHER'S FACE by HAYDEN CARRUTH TO ATLANTA UNIVERSITY - ITS FOUNDERS AND TEACHERS by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON SENRYU: BLIND DATE by TIMOTHY LIU BACCALAUREATE by ARCHIBALD MACLEISH PRELUDE TO A FAIRY TALE by EDITH SITWELL |