America the Beautiful - 1913
O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self the country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!
O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America ! America !
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!
O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life !
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!
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Photo: Bald Eagle, Vierra Wetlands, Brevard County, Florida (c) 2005 by Michael A. Pancier
1 comments:
In your blog I first noted that in giving praise for our past soldiers you stopped short of mentioning Vietnam, I was a Donut Dollie-Danang VN l966. Then I saw your beautiful nature pictures and saw my mother in your work, she founded the "Minnesota River Valley Audubon Club" in the early 60's with 70 people(it now has 2,000 members). I agree with your thoughts on immigration. My relatives waited years to come and stood in line at Ellis Island to enter this country. I, like you am a real patriot, with a background in Law Enforcement. I really enjoyed your blog and pictures. Thanks for sharing. Gdec@charter.net
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