(ADAPTED TO MUSIC) TOMB of the mighty dead! How sacred every tree, Waving above thy head, Or shedding bloom on thee: As long as fair Potomac flows, Sparkling 'neath Mount Vernon's sun, Rever'd by friends and foes Dwell here, in blest repose, Washington! Sons of the pilgrim sires, Sons of yon boundless west, Ye, whom the tropic fires, Or hoarse lakes lull to rest, If wandering wide, you e'er forget Ties that bind us all in one, Here, at your father's feet, The brothers' vow repeat, While the breeze respondeth sweet, Washington! He, of Helena's rock Hath an enduring name, Echoed in battle shock, Sculptured with blood and flame: But, when the mother at her knee Whispereth to her cradled son The alphabet of liberty, Will he not lisp of thee, Washington? Should baleful Discord steal Our patriot strength away, Or fierce Invasion's zeal Recal old Bunker's day, Or mad Disunion smite the tree Nurs'd so long in Glory's sun, Mount Vernon's tomb shall be The watch-word of the free, Guiding their hearts to thee, Washington! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THERE WILL BE STARS by SARA TEASDALE TO DAFFODILS by ROBERT HERRICK ON MAN by WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR THE ART OF PRESERVING HEALTH: BOOK 4. THE PASSIONS by JOHN ARMSTRONG SONNET TO THE DEBEN by BERNARD BARTON JAMES MCCOSH by ROBERT BRIDGES (1858-1941) EVENTIDE by VALERY YAKOVLEVICH BRYUSOV THE WANDERER: 5. IN HOLLAND: DEATH-IN-LIFE by EDWARD ROBERT BULWER-LYTTON |