Esteem her friendship with unwavering pride!
Teach thou thy children what the years have brought,
Wisdom and love superior to thy thought!
Once thou hast said, "All men may win her side,
But women never!" Sister, do not fear,
Recall thy words, since Love has made truth clear.
For Love is master, and we know no other,
Save self-compelling service to the right,
Which is but Love in the seraphic sight.
Teach this thy sons and to each man thy brother,—
A secret learned in silent joys of home,
A secret whence the lights of being come.
So guided by this lamp, O wife and mother,
Turn thine eyes hither to the Western shore,
Where red streams run and iron thunders roar!
We watch the star of Freedom slowly rise
And glimmer through the changes of the time,
While errors beat their low retreating chime.
We ask for nought, we need not to be wise,
We find both men and women at their post,
Equal and different in one mighty host.
Divided suffering, unity of cries,—
Divided labor, unity of life,—
Divided struggle, one reward for strife.
As autumn winds sweep over tossing seas
And reach the happy shore, and fling the flowers
And lower each gorgeous head by their rude powers,—
So sweep the winds of war through quiet leas
And bend our budding treasures in the dust,
Yet Freedom's cause shall neither mar nor rust.