Poems (Davidson)/The Star of Liberty

by Lucretia Maria Davidson

THE STAR OF LIBERTY.

There shone a gem on England's crown,
          Bright as yon star;
Oppression marked it with a frown,
He sent his darkest spirit down,
To quench the light that round it shone,
          Blazing afar.
But Independence met the foe,
And laid 'the swift-winged demon low.

A second messenger was sent,
          Dark as the night;
On his dire errand swift he went,
But Valor's bow was truly bent,
Justice her keenest arrow lent,
          And sped its flight;
Then fell the impious wretch, and Death
Approached, to take his withering breath.

Valor then took, with hasty hand,
          The gem of light;
He flew to seek some other land,
He flew to 'scape oppression's hand,
He knew there was some other strand,
          More bright;
And as he swept the fields of air,
He found a country, rich and fair.

Upon its breast the star he placed,
          The star of liberty:
Bright, and more bright the meteor blazed,
The lesser planets stood amazed,
Astonished mortals, wondering, gazed,
          Looking on fearfully.
That star shines brightly to this day,
On thy calm breast, America!