He shall be great who serves his country well. He shall be loved who ever guards her fame. His worth the starry banner long shall tell, Who loves his land too much to stoop to shame. Who shares the splendor of these sunny skies Has freedom as his birthright, and may know Rich fellowship with comrades brave and wise; Into the realms of manhood he may go. Who writes, "United States" beside his name Offers a pledge that he himself is true; Gives guarantee that selfishness or shame Shall never mar the work he finds to do. He is received world-wide as one who lives Above the sordid dreams of petty gain, And is reputed as a man who gives His best to others in their hours of pain. This is the heritage of Freedom's soil: High purposes and lofty goals to claim. And he shall be rewarded for his toil Who loves his land too much to stoop to shame. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FRAGMENTS WRITTEN WHILE TRAVELING...A MIDWESTERN HEAT WAVE by JAMES GALVIN LETHE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON FAREWELL TO FARGO: SELLING THE HOUSE by KAREN SWENSON ANDREA DEL SARTO (CALLED THE FAULTLESS PAINTER) by ROBERT BROWNING THE SHEPHEARDES CALENDER: MARCH by EDMUND SPENSER POCAHONTAS [JANUARY 5, 1608] by WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY TO FOREIGN LANDS by WALT WHITMAN |