Patriotic pieces from the Great War/Our Gift

OUR GIFT

Permission of the author

Behold Thy sons, O Lord!
We give them back to Thee,
With outstretched arms and bleeding hearts,
On bended knee.
Wrought in Thy image, nurtured in Thy truth,
The brave, the strong, all-glorious in youth;
Guard this our priceless gift, in strife and stress,
O Lord of Righteousness!

Our noblest sons, O Lord!
We give them back to Thee.
Use them to glorify Thy name,
A ransom for the free.
Yet as we give Thee back Thine own to-day,
On bended knee with fervent hearts we pray,
Guard Thou our valiant sons on land and sea,
O Lord of Liberty!

—Caroline Ticknor