A VOICE of grief and anger -- Of pity mix'd with scorn -- Moans o'er the waters of the west, Through fire and darkness borne; And fiercer voices join it -- A wild triumphant yell! For England's foes, on ocean slain, Have heard it where they fell. What is that voice which cometh Athwart the spectred sea? The voice of men who left their homes To make their children free; Of men whose hearts were torches For freedom's quenchless fire; Of men, whose mothers brave brought forth The sire of Franklin's sire. They speak! -- the Pilgrim Fathers Speak to ye from their graves! For earth hath mutter'd to their bones That we are soulless slaves! The Bradfords, Carvers, Winslows, Have heard the worm complain, That less than men oppress the men Whose sires were Pym and Vane! What saith the voice which boometh Athwart the upbraiding waves? "Though slaves are ye, our sons are free, Then why will you be slaves? The children of your fathers Were Hampden, Pym, and Vane!" Land of the sires of Washington, Bring forth such men again! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE TELLTALE by ELIZABETH AKERS ALLEN BEAUTIFUL LADY by SHEILA BARBOUR ON MUSIC by WILLIAM STANLEY BRAITHWAITE |