Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY, by MARGARET ELIZABETH SANGSTER (1894-1981)


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY, by                    
First Line: Tis splendid to live so grandly
Last Line: Keep the thought of your natal day.
Subject(s): Presidents, United States; Washington, George (1732-1799)


'TIS splendid to live so grandly
That long after you are gone,
The things you did are remembered,
And recounted under the sun;
To live so bravely and purely,
That a nation stops on its way
And once a year with banner and drum,
Keeps its thought of your natal day.

'Tis splendid to have a record,
So white and free from stain
That, held to the light, it shows no blot
Though tested and tried again;
That age to age forever
Repeats its story of love,
And your birthday lives in a nation's heart
All other days above.

And this is Washington's glory,
A steadfast soul and true
Who stood for his country's honor
When his country's days were few.
And now when its days are many,
And its flag of stars is flung
To the breeze in defiant challenge,
His name is on every tongue.

Yes; it's splendid to live so bravely,
To be so great and strong
That your memory is like a tocsin
To rally the foes of the wrong.
To live so proudly and purely
'That your people pause in their way,
And year by year, with banner and drum,
Keep the thought of your natal day.





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