2d—His men were only prisoners
Queen Isabel set free;
For other men, they did not dare
To cross the unknown sea.
3d—He had no friend to share his hope;
No one could understand;
Now all men honor his great name,
Who first saw our dear land.
All—If we can only be as true
To our best selves as he,
Speak truth, keep faith, be brave and pure,
True heroes we shall be.
Discovery Day
I wonder what Columbus
Would think of us today,
Just stepping out from '92,
Four centuries on, we'll say.
With aeroplanes and warships,
And submarine affairs,
He'd surely think the mighty sea
Was putting on some airs.
Discovery Day, we greet you;
You're only just begun;
Industry, art, and science now,
Begin their race to run.
But brighter than these wonders,
More beautiful to see,
Democracy's fair smile begins
To dawn o'er land and sea.
Discovery Day! When Freedom
Shall reign in every land,
When nations know their brotherhood,
And naught but good is grand.
America, thy mission
Be this: discover now
A world safe for Democracy.
'Tis ours to teach it how.