Poems (Hale)/The Birth-day of Washington
THE BIRTHDAY OF WASHINGTON.
Blow ye the trump of Fame!
And raise to heaven its deathless sound!
Loud let it spread earth's circuit round,
And waft the one loved name,
Far as the sun with radiant beam hath shone,
Thy sacred name, Immortal Washington.
And raise to heaven its deathless sound!
Loud let it spread earth's circuit round,
And waft the one loved name,
Far as the sun with radiant beam hath shone,
Thy sacred name, Immortal Washington.
O glorious, hallowed theme,
That name by wondering millions blest,
So dear to every freeman's breast!
Well may the poet's dream,
The painter's canvass, and the marble tell,
Why in our hearts joy's gushing fountains swell.
That name by wondering millions blest,
So dear to every freeman's breast!
Well may the poet's dream,
The painter's canvass, and the marble tell,
Why in our hearts joy's gushing fountains swell.
A cloud burst o'er our cherished land;
True was each heart and nerved each hand.
The young their parents' blessing sought,
And boldly for their country fought.
The aged poured one fervent prayer,
And meekly shared the soldier's fare:
Their blood, their lives, for our fair homes were given,
Their hopes were rested on the arm of Heaven.
Yet still no morn of bliss was near,
No sun, to chase their night of fear
Dark seemed their future fate,
Dreary and desolate.
True was each heart and nerved each hand.
The young their parents' blessing sought,
And boldly for their country fought.
The aged poured one fervent prayer,
And meekly shared the soldier's fare:
Their blood, their lives, for our fair homes were given,
Their hopes were rested on the arm of Heaven.
Yet still no morn of bliss was near,
No sun, to chase their night of fear
Dark seemed their future fate,
Dreary and desolate.
Sad were the presages then given.
But lo! upon their clouded heaven
A star arose. Its dazzling light
Dispelled the gathering shades of night;
Blessing and freedom were the glorious day.
That star its bright ascendant gained;
No mist its shining pathway stained;
No cloud obscured its glowing, deathless ray.
But lo! upon their clouded heaven
A star arose. Its dazzling light
Dispelled the gathering shades of night;
Blessing and freedom were the glorious day.
That star its bright ascendant gained;
No mist its shining pathway stained;
No cloud obscured its glowing, deathless ray.
What was the heaven-born star
That shed its light afar,
Above the war-cry's din, the battle's strife,
And guided us to victory and life?
The name is breathed from every freeman's mouth;
It comes like incense, on the gentle south:
And beams not now the kindling eye?
Rise not our swelling notes on high?
It is thy natal day, thou matchless one!
The day that gave to earth its Washington!
It is a feeble gift we bring,
And gratitude in vain attempts to tell
The glorious visions that within us swell.
That shed its light afar,
Above the war-cry's din, the battle's strife,
And guided us to victory and life?
The name is breathed from every freeman's mouth;
It comes like incense, on the gentle south:
And beams not now the kindling eye?
Rise not our swelling notes on high?
It is thy natal day, thou matchless one!
The day that gave to earth its Washington!
It is a feeble gift we bring,
And gratitude in vain attempts to tell
The glorious visions that within us swell.
There is a holy spot,—
Be not the stone forgot,
Which hides from view his mouldering dust,
Till earth shall yield to Heaven its sacred trust:
Be that our Mecca, that, fair freedom's shrine;
Brightly may freedom's sunlight o'er it shine:
And when his children shall declare
With reverence, the glorious name,
That links them to a future race,
And challenges immortal fame,
May they, though in the dust his form they trace,
Look up to heaven, and say, "his soul is there."
1832.
Be not the stone forgot,
Which hides from view his mouldering dust,
Till earth shall yield to Heaven its sacred trust:
Be that our Mecca, that, fair freedom's shrine;
Brightly may freedom's sunlight o'er it shine:
And when his children shall declare
With reverence, the glorious name,
That links them to a future race,
And challenges immortal fame,
May they, though in the dust his form they trace,
Look up to heaven, and say, "his soul is there."
1832.