WARDEN at ocean's gate, Thy feet on sea and shore, Like one the skies await When time shall be no more! What splendors crown thy brow? What bright dread angel Thou, Dazzling the waves before Thy station great? "My name is Liberty! From out a mighty land I face the ancient sea, I lift to God my hand; By day in Heaven's light, A pillar of fire by night, At ocean's gate I stand Nor bend the knee. "The dark Earth lay in sleep, Her children crouched forlorn, Ere on the western steep I sprang to height, reborn: Then what a joyous shout The quickened lands gave out, And all the choir of morn Sang anthems deep. "Beneath yon firmament, The New World to the Old My sword and summons sent, My azure flag unrolled: The Old World's hands renew Their strength; the form ye view Came from a living mould In glory blent. "O ye, whose broken spars Tell of the storms ye met, Enter! fear not the bars Across your pathway set; Enter at Freedom's porch, For you I lift my torch, For you my coronet Is rayed with stars. "But ye that hither draw To desecrate my fee, Nor yet have held in awe The justice that makes free, -- Avaunt, ye darkling brood! By Right my house hath stood: My name is Liberty, My throne is Law." O wonderful and bright, Immortal Freedom, hail! Front, in thy fiery might, The midnight and the gale; Undaunted on this base Guard well thy dwelling-place: Till the last sun grow pale Let there be Light! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WE WEAR THE MASK by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR STANZAS; HOOD'S LAST POEM by THOMAS HOOD A SOUL; A STUDY by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE SONG OF THE COSSACK by PIERRE JEAN DE BERANGER MARCH OF THE MEN OF HARLECH by ALEXANDER BOSWELL HINC LACHRIMAE; OR THE AUTHOR TO AURORA: 41 by WILLIAM BOSWORTH VALEDICTORY; THE SCHOLAR TO THE ASHES OF HIS LIBRARY by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB |