To The Union

Giant aggregate of nations,
Glorious Whole of glorious Parts,
Unto endless generations
Live United, hands and hearts!
Be it storm or summer-weather,
Peaceful calm, or battle-jar,
Stand in beauteous strength together,
Sister States, as Now ye are!

Every petty class-dissension,
Heal it up, as quick as thought;
Every paltry place-pretension,
Crush it, as a thing of nought:
Let no narrow private treason
Your great onward progress bar,
But remain, in right and reason,
Sister States, as Now ye are!

Fling away absurd ambition!
People, lave that toy to kings:
Envy, jealousy, suspicion,
Be above such grovelling things!
In each other's joys delighted,
All your hate be - joys of war,
And by all mans keep United,
Sister States, as Now ye are!

Were I but some scornful stranger,
Still my counsel would be just;
Break the band, and all is danger,
Mutual fear and dark distrust:
But, you know me for a brother
And a friend who speaks from far,
Be at one then with each other,
Sister States, as Now ye are!

If it seems a thing unholy
Freedom's soil by slaves to till,
Yet, be just! and sagely, slowly,
Nobly, cure that ancient ill:
Slowly,- haste is fatal ever;
Nobly,- lest good faith ye mar;
Sagely,- not in wrath to sever
Sister States, as Now ye are!

Charm'd with your commingled beauty
England sends the signal round,
'Every man must do his duty'
To redeem from bonds the bound!
Then indeed your banner's brightness
Shining clear from every star
Shall proclaim your joint uprightness,
Sister States, as Now ye are!

So, a peerless constellation
May those stars for ever blaze!
Three-and-ten-times-threefold nation,
Go a-head in power and praise!
Like the many-breasted goddess
Throned on her Ephesian car,
Be - one heart in many bodies!
Sister States, as Now ye are.