TO AMERICANS

SOOTH, Citizens! there are few hours to dawn Of a red day and black gun-horrored night. The cities sleep not soundly mid, their spawn Of golden-balled and silver-webbed light. Tomorrow breaks the rancor and the spite— To try our souls and test our bodies’ brawn. Americans! How stand we? Does the Dream Still hold? Once more the robust States declare Against the Wrong, their Right. Where millions teem, Curious, thoughtful, fateful, do we share The same proud purpose to defend the Scheme, Under the flag our lofty standards bear? Americans! Look we with fearless eyes Loyalty? Truth? Self-sacrifice? For Her, Our Country, now enringed by foreign spies, Will our set faces prove our calibre— Our Destiny all penalties incur, So that we show us pledged and patriot-wise. Countrymen! Rise, and let your ranks be formed For War, or Peace in solid moveless Race! We are not aliens, who for plunder swarmed To cover neath the glorious Freedom-Face. We are Souls, standing in our rightful place, Impregnable, unswerving, unalarmed. Brothers! defend the gates! Upon us lowers Portentously the brooding Europe pall. Until it comes, the fateful hour of hours, When our World-Dream must either stand or fall— Arm ye with Loyalty!—Hark, hear the call! Democracy still trumpets on the towers!