Samuel Kettell, ed. Specimens of American Poetry. 1829.
By An OdeThomas Green Fessenden (17711837)
A
Our souls inspire, attune our lays
With hearts as solemn as our theme,
To sing hosannas to thy praise!
And bid the pealing anthem rise,
May seraphim the strain prolong,
And hymns of glory fill the skies.
Ere time began revolving years—
Thy fiat gave to nature birth
And tuned to harmony the spheres.
Our pious fathers forced to roam,
And o’er the wild wave seek the land
Where freedom rears her hallow’d dome—
Pale horror rear’d his haggard form;
Thou didst the fragile bark sustain
To stem the fury of the storm!
Raised the shrill war-whoops frantic yell,
Thine arm made bare in our defence,
Dispersed the gloomy hosts of hell!
The varied sweets of vernal bloom—
The desert blossom’d like the rose,
And breathed Arabia’s rich perfume!
And gild with smiles this happy day.
Send us some chosen son of light
Our feet to guide in wisdom’s way.
And hush the din of party rage,
That liberty, secured by law,
May realize a golden age.
To whom the cares of state are given;
May justice wield the sword of power,
Till earth ’s the miniature of heaven!