<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">To The United States of America</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Brothers</span> in blood! They who this wrong began</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">To wreck our commonwealth, will rue the day</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">When first they challenged freemen to the fray,</p><p class="line">And with the Briton dared the American.</p><p class="line">Now are we pledged to win the Rights of man;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Labour and Justice now shall have their way,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And in a League of Peace -- God grant we may --</p><p class="line">Transform the earth, not patch up the old plan.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Sure is our hope since he who led your nation</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Spake for mankind, and ye arose in awe</p><p class="line">Of that high call to work the world's salvation;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Clearing your minds of all estranging blindness</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">In the vision of Beauty and the Spirit's law,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Freedom and Honour and sweet Lovingkindness.</p></div><p class="byline">Robert Bridges</p><p> April 30, 1917 </p></body></html> · Great War