Break forth in song, ye trees!
As through your tops the breeze
Sweeps from the sea!
For, on its rushing wings,
To your cool shades and springs
That breeze a people brings,
Exiled though free.
Ye sister hills! lay down
Of ancient oaks your crown,
In homage due;
These are the great of earth,-
Great, not by kingly birth,
Great in their well-proved worth,
Firm hearts and true.
These are the living lights,
That from your bold green heights
Shall shine afar,
Till they who name the name
Of Freedom, tow’rd the flame
Come, as the Magi came
Tow’rd Bethlehem’s Star.
Gone are those great and good
Who here in peril stood
And raised their hymn.’
Peace to the reverend dead!
The light, that on their head
Two hundred years have shed,
Shall ne’er grow dim.
Ye temples, that to God
Eise where our fathers trod!
Guard well your trust:
The faith that dared the sea,
The truth that made them free,
Their cherish’d purity,
Their garner’d dust.
Thou high and holy One
Whose care for sire and son
All nature fills,-
While day shall break and close,
While night her crescent shows,
O, let Thy light repose
On these our hills!
(John Pierpont)
More Poetry from John Pierpont:
John Pierpont Poems based on Topics: Light, Liberty & Freedom, Name, Sons, Truth, Nature, Trust, Belief & Faith, Birth, People- The Portrait (John Pierpont Poems)
- News-Carrier (John Pierpont Poems)
- Moslem Worship (John Pierpont Poems)
- Hymns and Odes for Temperance Occasions XIV: The Drunkard's Funeral (John Pierpont Poems)
- A Birthday In Scio (John Pierpont Poems)
- To A Friend (John Pierpont Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Light Poems, Nature Poems, Name Poems, Belief & Faith Poems, Sons Poems, Truth Poems, People Poems, Liberty & Freedom Poems, Birth Poems, Trust PoemsBased on Keywords: well-proved