American Heritage Library


America
by Abba Hillel Silver

God built him a continent of glory and
filled it with treasures untold;
He carpeted it with soft-rolling prairies and
columned it with thundering mountains;
He studded it with sweet-flowing fountains
and traced it with long-winding streams;
He planted it with deep-shadowed forests,
and filled them with song.
Then he called unto a thousand peoples and
summoned the bravest among them.
They came from the ends of the earth, each
bearing a gift and a hope.
The glow of adventure was in their eyes,
andin their hearts the glory of hope.
And out of the bounty of earth
and the laborof men,
Out of the longing of hearts
and the prayerof souls,
Out of the memory of ages
and hopes of theworld,
God fashioned a nation in love,
blessed it withPurpose sublime
and called it America!

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