SONS of the youth and the truth of a nation, Ye that are met to remember the man Whose valor gave birth to a people's salvation, Honor him now; set his name in the van, A nobleness to try for, A name to live and die for -- The name of Washington. Calmly his face shall look down through the ages -- Sweet yet severe with a spirit of warning; Charged with the wisdom of saints and of sages; Quick with the light of a life-giving morning. A majesty to try for, A name to live and die for -- The name of Washington! Though faction may rack us, or party divide us, And bitterness break the gold links of our story, Our father and leader is ever beside us. Live and forgive! But forget not the glory Of him whose height we try for, A name to live and die for -- The name of Washington! Still in his eyes shall be mirrored our fleeting Days, with the image of days long ended; Still shall those eyes give, immortally, greeting Unto the souls from his spirit descended. His grandeur we will try for, His name we'll live and die for -- The name of Washington! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE WILD FLOWER'S SONG by WILLIAM BLAKE BARNEY'S INVITATION by PHILIP FRENEAU NOCTURNE IN A DESERTED BRICKYARD by CARL SANDBURG BANTAMS IN PINE-WOODS by WALLACE STEVENS APPARITIONS by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE DEAMON LOVER by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH HE SAW MY HEART'S WOE by CHARLOTTE BRONTE |