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Katharine Lee Bates - To My Country
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O dear my Country, beautiful and dear, 
Love cloth not darken sight. 
God looketh through Love`s eyes, whose vision clear 
Beholds more flaws than keenest Hate hath known. 
Nor is Love`s judgment gentle, but austere; 
The heart of Love must break ere it condone 
One stain upon the white.

There comes an hour when on the parent turns 
The challenge of the child; 
The bridal passion for perfection burns; 
Life gives her last allegiance to the best; 
Each sweet idolatry the spirit spurns, 
Once more enfranchised for its starry quest 
Of beauty undefiled.

Love must be one with honor; yet to-day 
Love liveth by a sign; 
Allows no lasting compromise with clay, 
But tends the mounting miracle of gold, 
Content with service till the bud make way 
To the rejoicing sunbeams that unfold 
Its culminant divine.

There is a rumoring among the stars, 
A trouble in the sun. 
Freedom, most holy word, hath fallen at jars 
With her own deeds; `tis Mammon`s jubilee; 
Again the cross contends with scimitars; 
The seraphim look down with dread to see 
Earth`s noblest hope undone.

O dear my Country, beautiful and dear, 
Ultimate dream of Time, 
By all thy millions longing to revere 
A pure, august, authentic commonweal, 
Climb to the light. Imperiled Pioneer 
Of Brotherhood among the nations, seal 
Our faith with thy sublime.
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