O dear my Country, beautiful and dear, <br />Love cloth not darken sight. <br />God looketh through Love's eyes, whose vision clear <br />Beholds more flaws than keenest Hate hath known. <br />Nor is Love's judgment gentle, but austere; <br />The heart of Love must break ere it condone <br />One stain upon the white. <br /> <br />There comes an hour when on the parent turns <br />The challenge of the child; <br />The bridal passion for perfection burns; <br />Life gives her last allegiance to the best; <br />Each sweet idolatry the spirit spurns, <br />Once more enfranchised for its starry quest <br />Of beauty undefiled. <br /> <br />Love must be one with honor; yet to-day <br />Love liveth by a sign; <br />Allows no lasting compromise with clay, <br />But tends the mounting miracle of gold, <br />Content with service till the bud make way <br />To the rejoicing sunbeams that unfold <br />Its culminant divine. <br /> <br />There is a rumoring among the stars, <br />A trouble in the sun. <br />Freedom, most holy word, hath fallen at jars <br />With her own deeds; 'tis Mammon's jubilee; <br />Again the cross contends with scimitars; <br />The seraphim look down with dread to see <br />Earth's noblest hope undone. <br /> <br />O dear my Country, beautiful and dear, <br />Ultimate dream of Time, <br />By all thy millions longing to revere <br />A pure, august, authentic commonweal, <br />Climb to the light. Imperiled Pioneer <br />Of Brotherhood among the nations, seal <br />Our faith with thy sublime.<br /><br />Katharine Lee Bates<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-my-country/
