To the Judge of Right and Wrong <br />With Whom fulfillment lies <br />Our purpose and our power belong, <br />Our faith and sacrifice. <br /> <br />Let Freedom's land rejoice! <br />Our ancient bonds are riven; <br />Once more to us the eternal choice <br />Of good or ill is given. <br /> <br />Not at a little cost, <br />Hardly by prayer or tears, <br />Shall we recover the road we lost <br />In the drugged and doubting years, <br /> <br />But after the fires and the wrath, <br />But after searching and pain, <br />His Mercy opens us a path <br />To live with ourselves again. <br /> <br />In the Gates of Death rejoice! <br />We see and hold the good- <br />Bear witness, Earth, we have made our choice <br />For Freedom's brotherhood. <br /> <br />Then praise the Lord Most High <br />Whose Strength hath saved us whole, <br />Who bade us choose that the Flesh should die <br />And not the living Soul!<br /><br />Rudyard Kipling<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-choice-the-american-spirit-speaks/
