Ella Wheeler Wilcox (Элла Уилкокс)
America
I am the refuge of all the oppressed, I am the boast of the free, I am the harbor where ships may rest Safely 'twixt sea and sea. I hold up a torch to a darkened world, I lighten the path with its ray. Let my hand keep steady And let me be ready For whatever comes my way-- Let me be ready. Oh, better than fortresses, better than guns, Better than lance or spear, Are the loyal hearts of my daughters and sons, Faithful and without fear. But my daughters and sons must understand That Attila did not die. And they must be ready, Their hands must be steady, If the hosts of hell come nigh-- They must be ready. If Jesus were back on the earth with men, He would not preach today Until He had made him a scourge, and again He would drive the defilers away. He would throw down the tables of lust and greed And scatter the changers' gold. He would be ready, His hand would be steady, As it was in that temple of old-- He would be ready. I am the cradle of God's new world, From me shall the new race rise, And my glorious banner must float unfurled, Unsullied against the skies. My sons and daughters must be my strength, With courage to do and to dare. With hearts that are ready, With hands that are steady, And their slogan must be, Prepare! They must be ready! With a prayer on the lip they must shoulder arms. For after all has been said, We must muster guns, If we master Huns-- And Attila is not dead-- We must be ready!
Ella Wheeler Wilcox’s other poems:
- The Phantom Ball
- The Giddy Girl
- The Awakening (I love the tropics, where sun and rain)
- The Bed
- Bleak Weather
Poems of other poets with the same name (Стихотворения других поэтов с таким же названием):
