Page:Poems, Volume 1, Coates, 1916.djvu/194

172 Sent forth brave sons—of her new hunger taught—

Who, one by one returning, to her brought

The Wisdom of the West.

Then earth beheld,

With awe and wonderment,

Goliath by this stripling nation felled,

Which—rising by no tedious ascent—

Swift as the upward flight of wind-swept flame,

Leapt from obscurity to dazzling fame,—

Star of the Orient!

And yet she won

Sublimer victories,

Who, high enlightened all excess to shun,

Did not exact remorseless penalties,

Nor force a brave and fallen foe to drain

Humiliation's brimming cup of pain

Down to the poisoned lees.

In lieu of things

Ephemeral—less worth,

She full revealed the sweep of her strong wings,

And gained the suffrage of the grateful earth;