Anthology of Massachusetts Poets

<h2><SPAN name="chap02"></SPAN>AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL</h2> <p class="poem"> O beautiful for spacious skies,<br/> For amber waves of grain,<br/> For purple mountain majesties<br/> Above the fruited plain!<br/> America! America!<br/> God shed His grace on thee<br/> And crown thy good with brotherhood<br/> From sea to shining sea!<br/> <br/> O beautiful for pilgrim feet,<br/> Those stern, impassioned stress<br/> A thoroughfare for freedom beat<br/> Across the wilderness!<br/> America! America!<br/> God mend thine every flaw,<br/> Confirm thy soul in self-control,<br/> Thy liberty in law!<br/> <br/> O beautiful for heroes proved<br/> In liberating strife<br/> Who more than self their country loved,<br/> And mercy more than life!<br/> America! America!<br/> May God thy gold refine,<br/> Till all success be nobleness,<br/> And every gain divine.<br/> <br/> O beautiful for patriot dream<br/> That sees beyond the years<br/> Thine alabaster cities gleam<br/> Undimmed by human tears!<br/> America! America!<br/> God shed His grace on thee<br/> And crown thy good with brotherhood<br/> From sea to shining sea!<br/></p> <p class="left"> KATHERINE LEE BATES</p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />