To Thee, beneath whose eye
Each circling century
Obedient rolls,
Our nation, in its prime,
Looked with a faith sublime,
And trusted, in “the time
That tried men’s souls,”—
When, from this gate of heaven,
People and priest were driven
By fire and sword,
And, where thy saints had prayed,
The harnessed war-horse neighed,
And horsemen’s trumpets brayed
In harsh accord.
Nor was our fathers’ trust,
Thou Mighty One and Just,
Then put to shame;
“Up to the hills,” for light,
Looked they in peril’s night,
And, from yon guardian height,
Deliverance came.
There, like an angel form,
Sent down to still a storm,
Stood Washington!
Clouds broke and rolled away;
Foes fled in pale dismay;
Wreathed were his brows with bay,
When war was done.
God of our sires and sons,
Let other Washingtons
Our country bless,
And, like the brave and wise
Of by-gone centuries,
Show that true greatness lies
In righteousness.
(John Pierpont)
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Based on Topics: God Poems, Night Poems, Light Poems, Time Poems, Soul Poems, War & Peace Poems, Heaven Poems, Belief & Faith Poems, Sons Poems, People Poems, Courage PoemsBased on Keywords: brayed, washingtons