<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">"Liberty Enlightening the World"</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Thou</span> warden of the western gate, above Manhattan Bay,</p><p class="line">The fogs of doubt that hid thy face are driven clean away:</p><p class="line">Thine eyes at last look far and clear, thou liftest high thy hand</p><p class="line">To spread the light of liberty world-wide for every land.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">No more thou dreamest of a peace reserved alone for thee,</p><p class="line">While friends are fighting for thy cause beyond the guardian sea:</p><p class="line">The battle that they wage is thine; thou fallest if they fall;</p><p class="line">The swollen flood of Prussian pride will sweep unchecked o'er all.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">O cruel is the conquer-lust in Hohenzollern brains:</p><p class="line">The paths they plot to gain their goal are dark with shameful stains:</p><p class="line">No faith they keep, no law revere, no god but naked Might; --</p><p class="line">They are the foemen of mankind. Up, Liberty, and smite!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Britain, and France, and Italy, and Russia newly born,</p><p class="line">Have waited for thee in the night. Oh, come as comes the morn.</p><p class="line">Serene and strong and full of faith, America, arise,</p><p class="line">With steady hope and mighty help to join thy brave Allies.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">O dearest country of my heart, home of the high desire,</p><p class="line">Make clean thy soul for sacrifice on Freedom's altar-fire:</p><p class="line">For thou must suffer, thou must fight, until the warlords cease,</p><p class="line">And all the peoples lift their heads in liberty and peace.</p></div><p class="byline">Henry van Dyke</p><p> April 10, 1917 </p></body></html> · Great War