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Home  »  An American Anthology, 1787–1900  »  342 The Poet

Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.

By CorneliusMathews

342 The Poet

GATHER all kindreds of this boundless realm

To speak a common tongue in thee! Be thou—

Heart, pulse, and voice, whether pent hate o’erwhelm

The stormy speech or young love whisper low.

Cheer them, immitigable battle-drum!

Forth, truth-mailed, to the old unconquered field,

And lure them gently to a laurelled home,

In notes more soft than lutes or viols yield.

Fill all the stops of life with tuneful breath;

Closing their lids, bestow a dirge-like death!