Oklahoma and Other Poems

Excerpt

OKLAHOMA.

Oklahoma! Oklahoma!

Land, O, land of the Fair God,

Land where ancient, savage races

Through barbarian ages trod!

Through thy story fancy traces

Facts above what fictions say,

Where the world with haste advances,—

Born are nations in a day!

Where the wigwam stood so lonely,

Lordly cities rise in might;

Where spread desert wildness only,

Fertile farms and homes delight.

Thou hast summoned to thy bosom

From the ends of all the earth,

All the youngest, strongest, bravest,

Full of will and wondrous worth.

O'er thy valleys grow the blossoms

Culled from earth's remotest sod;

Oklahoma! Oklahoma!

Land, O, Land of the Fair God!

Oklahoma! Oklahoma!

There is music in thy name.

There is gladness in thy glory,

There is fondness in thy fame!

In the wonders of thy story

Shines the sheen of noble deed,

Brighter than the glare of battle

Where the warriors toil and bleed;

Ruling with immortal forces,

There is found the king of might,

Over all thy great resources

By the strength of truth and right.

With thy happy sons and daughters,

Live the virtues fair and pure,

And the better angels guiding

Keep their hearts and souls secure.

There are treasures in thy valleys,

There are treasures in thy hills;

Oklahoma! Oklahoma!

How thy name my bosom thrills!

Oklahoma! Oklahoma!

Child of law and liberty,

Thou art always true and tender,

Thou art ever dear to me!

I will always praises render

To the grandeur of thy worth,

For the fortunes all presided

At the moment of thy birth.

Pleasures in their pure completeness

O'er thy pleasant prairies shine,

And the raptures run with fleetness

Through the happy vales of thine.

Thou art empress of the angels,

Thou art queen of all the gods,

And the happiness of heaven

O'er thy laughing valleys nods.

I will always crown with praises

All thy glories, O, my state;

Oklahoma! Oklahoma!

Thou art greatest of the great!

Oklahoma! Oklahoma!

Bravest are thy noble sons,

In the thunders of the battle,

And the roaring of the guns!

Flash of sword and musket's rattle

Never fearful terror gave

To the staunch and valiant bosoms

Of thy happy hosts and brave.

When the roars of hell grow louder,

And the mountains shake in fright,

In the lurid clouds of powder,

They are foremost in the fight;

And when bayonet and musket,

Sword and saber, slaughter cease,

They are tenderest and truest

In the silent ways of peace.

O, my state! A stream of greatness

From thy mighty people runs;

Oklahoma! Oklahoma!

Bravest are thy noble sons!

Oklahoma! Oklahoma!

Fairest are thy daughters fair,

In the thousand deeds of duty

Thou hast given them to bear;

Peerless is their wondrous beauty,

Bright with blushes as the rose,

Pure as petals of the lily,

White as newly-fallen snows;

And their voices bright with blessing

Banish misery and woe,

While their fingers' soft caressing

Soothes the fevers from the brow.

Souls are always blessed with brightness

Bosoms filled with goodly pearls,

Hearts forever harvest gladness,

In the glances of thy girls.

They are robed in golden garments,

Nature's vestments, rich and rare;

Oklahoma!...