Children of the Sea

by William James Roe

Greater grows the world and wiser for the blood that she has
spilt,
    And the land of freedom reckons with the arms that dare
impede;
Stands the mailѐd civilizer, with one hand upon the hilt,
     And the other gently beckons to the lowly she has freed.

There are glories more enduring, greatness, greater than the past,
    When the flood of conquest falling shall have left the lowlands
              free,
When for aye, old evils curing, shall the seed of good be cast;–
    Hear the new archangel calling to the children of the sea.

Steadfast stand the States United, shrill the fife and loud the
drum,
    And the starry banners flaunting float along the seried lines;
For the wrong out arms have righted hear old Cuba cry, “We
come,”
    And Puerto Rico chanting answers to the Philippines.

Greet the greater nation blended with a new triumphal song,
    And for Reason’s reign undying gather in the states to be;
For a conquest swift and splendid over nature rude and wrong,
    Hear the new Archangel crying to the children of the sea.