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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


BATTLE HYMN OF THE RUSSIAN REPUBLIC by LOUIS UNTERMEYER

Poet Analysis

First Line: GOD, GIVE US STRENGTH THESE DAYS
Last Line: TRAMPLE IT WITH OUR LOVE!
Subject(s): RUSSIA; WORLD WAR I; SOVIET UNION; RUSSIANS; FIRST WORLD WAR;

God, give us strength these days --
Burn us with one desire;
To smother this murderous blaze,
Beat back these flames with fire.

Let us not weaken and fail
Or spend ourselves in a shout;
Let our white passion prevail
Till the terror is driven out.

Give us the power to fling
Ourselves and our fury, employed
To blast and destroy this thing
Lest Life itself be destroyed.

Friends in all lands, arise --
Turn all these fires to shake
Against their refuge of lies;
Force it to crumble and break.

Rise, ere it grow too late
And we have not strength enough.
Sweep it down with our hate!
Trample it with our love!



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