THE storm and peril overpast, <br />The hounding hatred shamed and still, <br />Go, soul of freedom! take at last <br />The place which thou alone canst fill. <br />Confirm the lesson taught of old — <br />Life saved for self is lost, while they <br />Who lose it in His service hold <br />The lease of God's eternal day. <br />Not for thyself, but for the slave <br />Thy words of thunder shook the world; <br />No selfish griefs or hatred gave <br />The strength wherewith thy bolts were hurled. <br />From lips that Sinai's trumpet blew <br />We heard a tender under song; <br />Thy very wrath from pity grew, <br />From love of man thy hate of wrong. <br />Now past and present are as one; <br />The life below is life above; <br />Thy mortal years have but begun <br />Thy immortality of love. <br />With somewhat of thy lofty faith <br />We lay thy outworn garment by, <br />Give death but what belongs to death, <br />And life the life that cannot die! <br />Not for a soul like thine the calm <br />Of selfish ease and joys of sense; <br />But duty, more than crown or palm, <br />Its own exceeding recompense. <br />Go up and on! thy day well done, <br />Its morning promise well fulfilled, <br />Arise to triumphs yet unwon, <br />To holier tasks that God has willed. <br />Go, leave behind thee all that mars <br />The work below of man for man; <br />With the white legions of the stars <br />Do service such as angels can. <br />Wherever wrong shall right deny <br />Or suffering spirits urge their plea, <br />Be thine a voice to smite the lie, <br />A hand to set the captive free!<br /><br />John Greenleaf Whittier<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/garrison-2/
