O thou that on this April day Went down the bitter road to death, While freedom stumbled on her way, Her beacon blown out with a breath -- Look back upon thy people now! Behold the work thy hands have wrought, -- The conquest of thy bleeding brow, The harvest of thy sleepless thought. From sea to sea, from palm to pine, The day of lord and slave is done; The wind will float no flag but thine; The long-divided house is one. More proudly will Potomac wind Past thy pure temple to the sea; But, ah! the hearts of men will find No marble white enough for thee! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FOR ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S EVE by MALCOLM COWLEY JONES'S PRIVATE ARGYMENT by SIDNEY LANIER TO OUR MOCKING-BIRD; DIED OF A CAT, MAY, 1878 by SIDNEY LANIER FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE by EMMA LAZARUS SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: ALFRED MOIR by EDGAR LEE MASTERS |