THE VOICE OF THE NORTH.

29. January 2008 by admin.

BY JOHN G. WITTIER.

Up the hill-side, down the glen,
Rouse the sleeping citizen:
Summon out the might of men!

Like a lion growling low–
Like a night-storm rising slow–
Like the tread of unseen foe–

It is coming–it is nigh!
Stand your homes and altars by,
On your own free threshold die.

Clang the bells in all your spires,
On the gray hills of your sins
Fling to heaven your signal-fires.

Oh! for God and duty stand,
Heart to heart, and hand to hand,
Round the old graves of the land.

Whoso shrinks or falters now,
Whoso to the yoke would bow,
Brand the craven on his brow.

Freedom’s soil has only place
For a free and fearless race–
None for traitors false and base.

Perish party–perish clan;
Strike together while you can,
Like the strong arm of one man.

Like the angels’ voice sublime,
Heard above a world of crime,
Crying for the end of Time.

With one heart and with one mouth,
Let the North speak to the South;
Speak the word befitting both.

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