| Publication information |
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Source: The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley Source type: book Document type: poem Document title: “America” Author(s): Riley, James Whitcomb Edition: Memorial edition Volume number: 8 Publisher: Harper and Brothers Publishers Place of publication: New York, New York Year of publication: 1916 Pagination: 2000-01 |
| Citation |
| Riley, James Whitcomb. “America.” The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley. Memorial ed. Vol. 8. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1916: pp. 2000-01. |
| Transcription |
| full text |
| Keywords |
| McKinley assassination (poetry). |
| Named persons |
| none. |
| Notes |
| From title page: The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley: Including Poems and Prose Sketches, Many of Which Have Not Heretofore Been Published; An Authentic Biography, an Elaborate Index and Numerous Illustrations in Color from Paintings by Howard Chandler Christy and Ethel Franklin Betts. |
| Document |
America
O Thou, America—Messiah of Nations!
IIN the need that bows us thus,
America!
Shape a mighty song for us—
America!
Song to whelm a hundred years’
Roar of wars and rain of tears
’Neath a world’s triumphant cheers:
America! America!
IILift the trumpet to thy mouth,
America!
East and West and North and South—
America!
Call us round the dazzling shrine
Of the starry old ensign—
New baptized in blood of thine,
America! America! [2000][2001]
IIIDying eyes through pitying mists,
America!
See the Assassin’s shackled wrists,
America!
Patient eyes that turn their sight
From all blackening crime and blight
Still toward Heaven’s holy light—
America! America!
IVHigh o’erlooking sea and land,
America!
Trustfully with outheld hand,
America!
Thou dost welcome all in quest
Of thy freedom, peace and rest—
Every exile is thy guest,
America! America!
VThine a universal love,
America!
Thine the cross and crown thereof,
America!
Aid us, then, to sing thy worth:
God hath builded, from thy birth,
The first nation of the earth—
America! America!