| July 4th. 1826 |
Not a smile was seen—Nor a sound heard of joy
Tho’ the day was to Gratitude vow’d
The brightness of pleasure that ne’er knew alloy
Had been dimm’d like the Sun by a cloud
The day that a Nation first gave to the world
And millions of Freemen—Now blest
In its oft welcom’d Course—Saw no banner unfurl’d
Save what proud exultation exprest
With hearts high in hopes & with Gratitude fill’d
The bright dawn had propitiously broke
T’was the Jubilee year—The Anthem loud peal’d
And the Song of thanksgiving awoke
In the midst of our Pæan in liberty’s praise
And the Patriots who liberty won
The Angel of death—Hov’ring near meets our Gaze
Sent by Heaven its last work to crown
As Gratitude lifts up her voice in their Honor
And the debt that she owes fondly pays
The martyrs with joy yield back to their Donor
Their bright lives—conse-crated to praise
T’was thus—for our glory that heav’ns last will
Should her plan—Now perfected—Pronounce
That those who had wrought it—should live to reveal
Both its birth and duration at once—
T. B. J.
MHi: Adams Papers.
printable version