The whelp that nipped its mother’s dug in turning from her breast,
And smacked its lusty lips and built its own lair in the West,
Has stretched its limbs and looked about and roared across the sea:
“Oh, mother, I did bite thee hard, but still thou lovest me!”
She lifts her head and listens, as waking from a dream,
Her great jaw set, her claws outspread, her lion eyes agleam;
The voice is deep as thunder on the far horizon rim,
And up the mother spoke and said: “It can be none but him!”
Cried England to America: “My ancient love abides,
And the old Trafalgar courage still upon the ocean rides.”
America to England spake: “The God of Liberty
Goes with us marching up the land and sailing down the sea.”
And the twain are joined for hunting,—let all the packs beware,
The tiger’s kith, the panther’s kin, the race-hordes of the bear.
They two step forth together, God’s hand has struck the hour,
All pathways lead to freedom, each footstep broadens power.
The world is still in dull amaze, agape and dazed to hear;
There is a rustling of the thrones, uneasy far and near,
King leaning unto king, and on Oppression’s hateful lips
A pallor as the wind brings in the booming of the ships.
And who shall cower, who recoil, or choose the craven’s tack,
And strain the law (by heroes made) to hold his country back?
Ah, who? Let children lisp his shame and women cry him down
What time our glorious banner waves o’er storm
(Maurice Thompson)
More Poetry from Maurice Thompson:
Maurice Thompson Poems based on Topics: Dreams, Liberty & Freedom, Kings & Queens, World, God, Mothers, Power, America, Law & Regulation, Listening- Before Sunrise (Maurice Thompson Poems)
- To An English Skylark (Maurice Thompson Poems)
- In Exile (Maurice Thompson Poems)
- In Capacity (Maurice Thompson Poems)
- To Sappho (Maurice Thompson Poems)
- To An English Nightingale (Maurice Thompson Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: God Poems, World Poems, Dreams Poems, Kings & Queens Poems, Power Poems, Mothers Poems, Law & Regulation Poems, Liberty & Freedom Poems, Listening Poems, America PoemsBased on Keywords: whelp, smacked, broadens, hunting-