Christopher Morley




America, 1917

Dynamo of strength uncurbed,
Boundless might, undisciplined,
Energies still undisturbed,
Power, unharnessed as the wind—

Huge, inchoate, commonweal,
Lo, at last we catch the thrill:
Now we found and forge the steel,
Scoop a channel for the will.

Here we stand, and destiny
Now admits us no retreat:
Hearts are braced from sea to sea,
Hark! I hear the marching feet!

Hills are moved, streams faster run;
Plumper kernels fill the wheat,
Now we dream and do as one—
Hark! I hear the marching feet!
             March 1917