Oh, hero of our younger race! Great builder of a temple new! Ruler, who sought no lordly place! Warrior who sheathed the sword he drew! Lover of men, who saw afar A world unmarred by want or war, Who knew the path, and yet forbore To tread, till all men should implore; Who saw the light, and led the way Where the gray world might greet the day; Father and leader, prophet sure, Whose will in vast works shall endure, How shall we praise him on this day of days, Great son of fame who has no need of praise? How shall we praise him? Open wide the doors Of the fair temple whose broad base he laid. Through its white halls a shadowy cavalcade Of heroes moves o'er unresounding floors— Men whose brawned arms upraised these colors high And reared the towers that vanish in the sky,— The strong who, having wrought, can never, never die. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE ECSTASY [EXTASIE] by JOHN DONNE AN APPEAL TO CATS IN THE BUSINESS OF LOVE; SONG by THOMAS FLATMAN FIRST OR LAST (SONG) by THOMAS HARDY MOTHER TO SON by JAMES LANGSTON HUGHES LOVE AND TIME by WALTER RALEIGH THE INDIAN SERENADE by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY THE CAP AND BELLS by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS INVITES POETS AND HISTORIANS TO WRITE IN CYNTHIA'S PRAISE by PHILIP AYRES |