Thomas Paine: Columbia

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Columbia

By Thomas Paine

1737.1.29-1809.6.8

Tune-Anacreon in Heaven
To Columbia who, gladly reclined at her ease
On Atlantic's broad bosom, lay smiling in peace,
Minerva flew hastily sent from above,
And addrest her this message from thundering Jove:
"Rouse, quickly awake!
Your Freedom's at stake,
Storms arise, your renown'd independence to shake,
Then lose not a moment, my aid I will lend,
If your sons will assemble your rights to defend."

Roused Columbia rose up, and indignant declared,
That no nation she'd wrong'd and no nation she fear'd,
That she wished not for war, but if war were her fate,
She would rally up souls independent and great:
Then tell mighty Jove,
That we quickly will prove,
We deserve the protection he'll send from above;
For ne'er shall the sons of America bend,
But united their rights and their freedom defend.

Minerva smiled cheerfully as she withdrew,
Enraptured to find her Americans true,
"For," said she "our sly Mercury ofttimes reports,
That your sons are divided" - Columbia retorts,
"Tell that vile god of thieves,
His report but deceives,
And we care not what madman such nonsense believes,
For ne'er shall the sons of America bend,
But united their rights and their freedom defend."

Jove rejoiced in Columbia such union to see,
And swore by old Styx she deserved to be free
Then assembled the Gods, who all gave consent,
Their assistance if needful her ill to prevent;
Mars arose, shook his armor,
And swore his old Farmer
Should ne'er in his country see aught that could harm her,
For ne'er should the sons of America bend,
But united their rights and their freedom; defend.

Minerva resolved that her regis she'd lend,
And Apollo declared he their cause would defend,
Old Vulcan an armor would forge for their aid,
More firm than the one for Achilles he made.
Jove vow'd he'd prepare, A compound most rare,
Of courage and union, a bountiful share;
And swore ne'er shall the sons of America bend,
But their rights and their freedom most firmly defend.

Ye sons of Columbia, then join hand in hand,
Divided we fall, but united we stand;
'Tis ours to determine, 'tis ours to decree,
That in peace we will live independent and free;

And should from afar
Break the horrors of war,
We'll always be ready at once to declare,
That ne'er will the sons of America bend,
But united their rights and their freedom defend.

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