Poems (Botta)/Ode for the Fourth of July

by Anne Lynch Botta

Layout 2

 

 

ODE

FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY.

 A glorious vision burst
  On Europe’s dazzled sight,
 Upon that day when first
  Columbia sprang to light;—
When our New World, till then concealed,
In virgin beauty stood revealed.

 But more sublime that day
  When the young nation rose,
 And cast her chains away,
  And dared her tyrant foes:
Thrones quaked, and despots trembled then,
For bonds were rent and slayes were men.

 The torch of Liberty,
  Relighted on that day,
 Streamed over land and sea
  With brighter, holier ray.
Hail to our Country! hail to thee,
Auspicious day that saw her free!

 Let the star-spangled flag
  Upon the free air float;
 Let hill, and vale, and crag,
  Prolong the cannon’s note:
“Live the Republic!” let this be
The watch-word of our liberty.