Part 37 (1/2)
O Lord our G.o.d, Thy mighty hand Hath made our country free; From all her broad and happy land May praise arise to Thee.
Fulfill the promise of her youth, Her liberty defend; By law and order, love and truth, America befriend!
The strength of every State increase In Union's golden chain; Her thousand cities fill with peace, Her million fields with grain.
The virtues of her mingled blood In one new people blend; By unity and brotherhood, America befriend!
O suffer not her feet to stray; But guide her untaught might, That she may walk in peaceful day, And lead the world in light.
Bring down the proud, lift up the poor, Unequal ways amend; By justice, nation-wide and sure, America befriend!
Thro' all the waiting land proclaim Thy gospel of good-will; And may the music of Thy name In every bosom thrill.
O'er hill and vale, from sea to sea.
Thy holy reign extend; By faith and hope and charity, America befriend!
THE RED FLOWER AND GOLDEN STARS
_These verses were written during the terrible world-war, and immediately after. The earlier ones had to be unsigned because America was still ”neutral” and I held a diplomatic post. The rest of them were printed after I had resigned, and was free to speak out, and to take active service in the Navy, when America entered the great conflict for liberty and peace on earth._
Avalon, February 22, 1920.
THE RED FLOWER
June, 1914
In the pleasant time of Pentecost, By the little river Kyll, I followed the angler's winding path Or waded the stream at will, And the friendly fertile German land Lay round me green and still.
But all day long on the eastern bank Of the river cool and clear, Where the curving track of the double rails Was hardly seen though near, The endless trains of German troops Went rolling down to Trier.
They packed the windows with bullet heads And caps of hodden gray; They laughed and sang and shouted loud When the trains were brought to a stay; They waved their hands and sang again As they went on their iron way.
No shadow fell on the smiling land, No cloud arose in the sky; I could hear the river's quiet tune When the trains had rattled by; But my heart sank low with a heavy sense Of trouble,--I knew not why.
Then came I into a certain field Where the devil's paint-brush spread 'Mid the gray and green of the rolling hills A flaring splotch of red,-- An evil omen, a b.l.o.o.d.y sign, And a token of many dead.
I saw in a vision the field-gray horde Break forth at the devil's hour, And trample the earth into crimson mud In the rage of the Will to Power,-- All this I dreamed in the valley of Kyll, At the sign of the blood-red flower.
A Sc.r.a.p OF PAPER
”Will you go to war just for a sc.r.a.p of paper?”--_Question of the German Chancellor to the British Amba.s.sador_, _August 5_, 1914.
A mocking question! Britain's answer came Swift as the light and searching as the flame.
”Yes, for a sc.r.a.p of paper we will fight Till our last breath, and G.o.d defend the right!
”A sc.r.a.p of paper where a name is set Is strong as duty's pledge and honor's debt.