<h2><SPAN name="Washington" id="Washington">Washington</SPAN></h2>
<p class="p2 poem">It is forever so—when there is need<br/>
Of some clear, clarion voice to forward lead<br/>
God raiseth up a man from his own seed;<br/>
Not from the soft, luxurious lap of earth,<br/>
But from a nobler soil, so that from birth<br/>
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</SPAN></span>
The frame is moulded with a chosen food<br/>
That has one only end—to make it good,<br/>
Full generous, far-sighted, firm and keen,<br/>
With strength to rise above the gross and mean—<br/>
The sordid selfishness that like a curse<br/>
Drives from the heart the virtues it would nurse—<br/>
That love of country, freedom's holy cause,<br/>
Justice, mercy, that eye for equal laws,<br/>
Faith in the future and our fellow-men,<br/>
Faith in the sword when shielded by the pen—<br/>
And so it was with us—when there was need<br/>
Of one commanding voice to forward lead,<br/>
God rais'd up here a man from His own seed;<br/>
And so came forth the gentle Washington,<br/>
Fair child of Fate, the nation's noblest son,<br/>
Whom Virtue fostered and whom Virtue won.<br/></p>
<p class="p1 poem">Some few there be whose feet knew
rougher
ground,<br/>
But few indeed a loftier summit found—<br/>
Nurtured in tender soil, he held a path<br/>
Where others faltered, heeding not the wrath<br/>
Of any king or potentate or power—<br/>
His was the hero-heart—he saw the hour,—<br/>
He knew the mighty odds, yet would not cower.<br/>
And when the tyrant's heel touch'd on our shore<br/>
And thrust itself unbidden to our door,—<br/>
But Washington alone with eagle-eye<br/>
Withstood the foe and taught him how to die;<br/>
Repulsed, disheartened, driven to despair,<br/>
He lifted up his voice in humble prayer,<br/>
For in that awful night at Valley Forge<br/>
He drank the bitter cup—he knew Fate's scourge,<br/>
He felt her lash,—this tender-hearted George.<br/></p>
<p class="p1 poem">Father of Liberty—thou Child of Light,<br/>
Columbia's first-born, who in thy might<br/>
Restored to Freedom her enfeebled sight—<br/>
If spirits of the nobler dead can hear,<br/>
This day—thy natal day—press close thine ear<br/>
And learn what we thy nation need to fear,<br/>
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</SPAN></span>
And if the immortal dead can truly speak,<br/>
Show us, O Child of Light, where we are weak,—<br/>
Grant us thy counsel (for thou art with God)<br/>
And bear us wisdom where thy footsteps trod,<br/>
And if thou seest aught of envious strife<br/>
From virtue sapping all her sweeter life,<br/>
Teach us, O Child of Light, a purer love,<br/>
For thou hast learn'd of God—thou art above<br/>
Thy weak and erring mortals here below<br/>
Who see the light, yet forward fear to go—<br/>
Guide us, if <span style="text-decoration: underline;">spirits</span>
of the dead
may guide,<br/>
So that in peace we ever may abide,<br/>
So that from land to sea, from shore to shore,<br/>
We shall be brothers now and <span style="text-decoration: underline;">evermore.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;" class="p3"><ANTIMG style="width: 89px; height: 50px;" alt="" src="images/leaf.jpg" /></p>
<div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />
1 of 2
2 of 2
Previous
Next
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.