Classic Poem

Who am I, rising gigantic now —
From the fighting man to the man at the plow?
My voice is heard through the ring of the strife
To aid Democracy's fight for life;
And I chant mid my labors, day by day:
" Excel your labors of yesterday! "

What of the marvelous works of steel? —
Wild music to one, if he can but feel,
Is the wondrous machinery's roar and flame;
He sees the one thought and he catches its name,
Ringing clear, loud through the clanging fray:
" Excel your labors of yesterday! "

What of the gunworks' flame-shot gloom?
Where dim in the throbbing, heated room,
The cannon are born to hurl their shell
Into the teeth of the Hosts of Hell,
And roar from their iron throats the lay,
" Excel your labors of yesterday! "

What of the shipyard's loud turmoil?
Where the sweating workmen unceasing toil
To send an argosy over the sea,
Carrying food to the fighting free,
To laugh at the U-boat dastards and say:
" Excel your labors of yesterday! "

Men die that the whole world may be free,
But one and all, they depend on me;
Their flashing swords and shrieking shell
Are born of me — mad Huns to quell;
The breath of victory swells my lay:
" Excel your labors of yesterday! "