The land, that, from the rule of kings, <br />In freeing us, itself made free, <br />Our Old World Sister, to us brings <br />Her sculptured Dream of Liberty, <br /> <br />Unlike the shapes on Egypt's sands <br />Uplifted by the toil-worn slave, <br />On Freedom's soil with freemen's hands <br />We rear the symbol free hands gave. <br /> <br />O France, the beautiful! to thee <br />Once more a debt of love we owe <br />In peace beneath thy Colors Three, <br />We hail a later Rochambeau! <br /> <br />Rise, stately Symbol! holding forth <br />Thy light and hope to all who sit <br />In chains and darkness! Belt the earth <br />With watch-fires from thy torch uplit! <br /> <br />Reveal the primal mandate still <br />Which Chaos heard and ceased to be, <br />Trace on mid-air th' Eternal Will <br />In signs of fire: 'Let man be free!' <br /> <br />Shine far, shine free, a guiding light <br />To Reason's ways and Virtue's aim, <br />A lightning-flash the wretch to smite <br />Who shields his license with thy name!<br /><br />John Greenleaf Whittier<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-bartholdi-statue/
