59. Columbia's Invocation!
by Charles A. Barry.
Columbia, washing out with tears,And hero-blood, her only shame--
Turns to her flag of eighty years,
Immortal in its stars and flame:
O beauteous gift of God! she cries,
Gleam out on every hill and plain!
Wave o'er my people as they rise
To win me back my fame again.
Her Eagle from his loftiest peak
The pride of all his nature shows--
Screams wildly — with a clashing beak--
Defiance to her gathering foes.
Aloft, he swoops on tireless wings,
Not him can cannon-crash appall!
Through fire and smoke his anger rings
Accordant to her clarion call.
Then rouse, ye freemen, sound a blast
From all your trumpets, loud and long
Let not th' avenging time go past,
Be swift, and terrible, and strong!
Uplift the flag; let not a star
Be sundered from its field of blue!
With fond lips kiss each sacred bar
That runs our deathless emblem through!
And God be with you! Hasten on!
With martial paeans rend the sky!
Let bayonets glisten in the sun,
And all your battle-banners fly!
And smite to kill! See! Freedom bleeds I
She calls you with her stifled breath!
Rebellion to her temple speeds--
March on, to Victory or Death!
