A Peace Hymn Of The Republic
by James Whitcomb Riley

There's a Voice across the Nation like a might ocean-hail,
Borne up from out the Southward as the seas before the gale;
Its breath is in the streaming Flag and in the flying sail -
As we go sailing on.

'Tis a Voice that we remember - ere its summons soothed as
now -
When it rang in battle-challenge, and we answered vow with
vow, -
With roar of gun and hiss of sword and crash of prow and
prow,
As we went sailing on.

Our hope sank, even as we saw the sun sink faint and far, -
The Ship of State went groping through the blinding smoke of
War -
Through blackest midnight lurching, all uncheered of moon or
star,
Yet sailing - sailing on.

As One who spake the dead awake, with life-blood leaping warm
-
Who walked the troubled waters, all unscathed, in mortal
form, -
We felt our Pilot's presence with His hand upon the storm,
As we went sailing on.

O Voice of passion lulled to peace, this dawning of To-day -
O Voices twain now blent as one, ye sing all fears away,
Since foe and foe are friends, and lo! the Lord, as glad as
they. -
He sends us sailing on.