The Voice of the tower
ETHAN ALLEN
Y E have builded me well, ye have builded me strong,
And the years of my life shall be many and long!
O men of To-day, who have given me birth,
My voice shall be heard through the confines of earth,
Now deep as a mighty bell pealing afar, —
Now clear and triumphant as bugle notes are, —
Now strong as the wind's cry when tempests are out
And the soul of the Storm-God responds with a shout, —
Now soft as the murmur of slow-gliding streams,
Or as Love's tender whispers when heard in your dreams!
The mountains shall hear it, and echo the strain
As they lift their proud heads over valley and plain,
And the broad lake, unresting, on waves rolling free
Shall carry my message to river and sea.
All its islands shall listen, as tranquil they lie
Looking up day and night to the fathomless sky;
All the forests that stretch to the north and the west
Are akin to my soul, I will answer their quest; —
And one day — who knoweth? — through cloudrifts and bars
Some strong breath of mine may float up to the stars!
O men of To-day, who have set me on high,
Beneath me the great rock, above me the sky,
Ye have builded me well; ye have fashioned my form
In the strength that does battle with tumult and storm!
I am one with the ages. Their secrets are mine
Since you poured on my forehead the chrism divine
And bade me outlive ye. For ah, ye must pass
As the mist on the mountain, the dew on the grass,
While I — I shall live while the centuries sweep
In processional glory from deep unto deep!
Your children, and their children's children shall hear
The voice of the Tower ring loudly and clear!
It shall tell them of him in whose honor to-day
Drums beat, trumpets blare, and the wild bugles play.
Bid him come from Valhalla with eyes bright and bold
This fair stretch of earth once again to behold,
Bringing with him his comrades, the valiant and brave,
Who lived not for fame but their country to save.
— Ah, they come! They are here! They encompass me round,
Though ye see not, and feel not, and hear not a sound!
Beat louder, O drums! and, ye trumpets, lift high
Your jubilant notes till they fill the wide sky!
Shout, freemen! who hold the broad land of their love,
The land they esteemed all things earthly above!
They have come at your call from the realm where they dwell,
With the infinite hosts who have borne their parts well,
And the great of all climes and all ages are fain
To join the loud paeans and swell the refrain.
Pledge them honor and fealty! Tell them to-day
That they live in your hearts and shall live there alway!
I shall stand on my rock as the years come and go,
And whether the ages pass swiftly or slow,
They shall hear the proud story of chivalrous youth,
Of honor unsullied, of courage and truth,
Of patriot ardor, of valor sublime
That soars like a bird o'er the wreckage of time; —
Of all souls that undaunted face danger and death,
Counting all that life holds as the gossamer's breath
Save the love of the highest, the love that looks up
In the face of the Highest — and draineth the cup!
Y E have builded me well, ye have builded me strong,
And the years of my life shall be many and long!
O men of To-day, who have given me birth,
My voice shall be heard through the confines of earth,
Now deep as a mighty bell pealing afar, —
Now clear and triumphant as bugle notes are, —
Now strong as the wind's cry when tempests are out
And the soul of the Storm-God responds with a shout, —
Now soft as the murmur of slow-gliding streams,
Or as Love's tender whispers when heard in your dreams!
The mountains shall hear it, and echo the strain
As they lift their proud heads over valley and plain,
And the broad lake, unresting, on waves rolling free
Shall carry my message to river and sea.
All its islands shall listen, as tranquil they lie
Looking up day and night to the fathomless sky;
All the forests that stretch to the north and the west
Are akin to my soul, I will answer their quest; —
And one day — who knoweth? — through cloudrifts and bars
Some strong breath of mine may float up to the stars!
O men of To-day, who have set me on high,
Beneath me the great rock, above me the sky,
Ye have builded me well; ye have fashioned my form
In the strength that does battle with tumult and storm!
I am one with the ages. Their secrets are mine
Since you poured on my forehead the chrism divine
And bade me outlive ye. For ah, ye must pass
As the mist on the mountain, the dew on the grass,
While I — I shall live while the centuries sweep
In processional glory from deep unto deep!
Your children, and their children's children shall hear
The voice of the Tower ring loudly and clear!
It shall tell them of him in whose honor to-day
Drums beat, trumpets blare, and the wild bugles play.
Bid him come from Valhalla with eyes bright and bold
This fair stretch of earth once again to behold,
Bringing with him his comrades, the valiant and brave,
Who lived not for fame but their country to save.
— Ah, they come! They are here! They encompass me round,
Though ye see not, and feel not, and hear not a sound!
Beat louder, O drums! and, ye trumpets, lift high
Your jubilant notes till they fill the wide sky!
Shout, freemen! who hold the broad land of their love,
The land they esteemed all things earthly above!
They have come at your call from the realm where they dwell,
With the infinite hosts who have borne their parts well,
And the great of all climes and all ages are fain
To join the loud paeans and swell the refrain.
Pledge them honor and fealty! Tell them to-day
That they live in your hearts and shall live there alway!
I shall stand on my rock as the years come and go,
And whether the ages pass swiftly or slow,
They shall hear the proud story of chivalrous youth,
Of honor unsullied, of courage and truth,
Of patriot ardor, of valor sublime
That soars like a bird o'er the wreckage of time; —
Of all souls that undaunted face danger and death,
Counting all that life holds as the gossamer's breath
Save the love of the highest, the love that looks up
In the face of the Highest — and draineth the cup!
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