Читать книгу The Bee's Bayonet (a Little Honey and a Little Sting) - Edwin Alfred Watrous - Страница 1

To Thee, My Native Land, America!

My heart with pride is filled: my lips exult

Because Thou art my Home—my Fatherland.

Beneath the Constellation of the States,

Set in the firmament of fadeless blue,

I bare my head and hail the Stars and Stripes,

Proud Emblem of our Unity and Might.

My Country calls! I give what I possess,—

All! All I say! and giving thus, regret

That my poor contribution to thy needs,

In hours of peril when dark war-clouds loom,

Is such a paltry thing

When measured by the debt of gratitude

I owe for Liberty.

All that I am and have belongs to Thee.

Upon thy Altar Fires,

Where Freedom glows and glorifies Mankind,

I consecrate

My flood-tide strength, my substance—life itself!

And rate not this as sacrifice

That gives me pleasure to repay

In this small way

Thy boon and bounty, priceless Liberty.