Classic and Contemporary Poetry
LIBERTY ENLIGHTENING THE WORLD, by EDMUND CLARENCE STEDMAN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Warden at ocean's gate Last Line: Let there be light! Subject(s): Statue Of Liberty | ||||||||
WARDEN at ocean's gate, Thy feet on sea and shore, Like one the skies await When time shall be no more! What splendors crown thy brow? What bright dread angel Thou, Dazzling the waves before Thy station great? "My name is Liberty! From out a mighty land I face the ancient sea, I lift to God my hand; By day in Heaven's light, A pillar of fire by night, At ocean's gate I stand Nor bend the knee. "The dark Earth lay in sleep, Her children crouched forlorn, Ere on the western steep I sprang to height, reborn: Then what a joyous shout The quickened lands gave out, And all the choir of morn Sang anthems deep. "Beneath yon firmament, The New World to the Old My sword and summons sent, My azure flag unrolled: The Old World's hands renew Their strength; the form ye view Came from a living mould In glory blent. "O ye, whose broken spars Tell of the storms ye met, Enter! fear not the bars Across your pathway set; Enter at Freedom's porch, For you I lift my torch, For you my coronet Is rayed with stars. "But ye that hither draw To desecrate my fee, Nor yet have held in awe The justice that makes free, -- Avaunt, ye darkling brood! By Right my house hath stood: My name is Liberty, My throne is Law." O wonderful and bright, Immortal Freedom, hail! Front, in thy fiery might, The midnight and the gale; Undaunted on this base Guard well thy dwelling-place: Till the last sun grow pale Let there be Light! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE STATUE OF LIBERTY by EDGAR LEE MASTERS ST. FRANCIS EINSTEIN OF THE DAFFODILS (FIRST VERSION) by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS THE NEW COLOSSUS by EMMA LAZARUS THE BARTHOLDI STATUE by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER TO THE BARTHOLDI STATUE by AMBROSE BIERCE THE AGING COLOSSUS by JULIAN MOSES DRACHMAN F. HOPKINSON SMITH by JOHN HUSTON FINLEY THE BRAND NEW STATUE OF LIBERTY; TO LEE IACOCCA (ANOTHER MICHIGAN BOY) by JAMES HARRISON AMERICA by MURRAY KETCHAM KIRK A MOTHER'S PICTURE by EDMUND CLARENCE STEDMAN |
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