Monday, May 30, 2005

Katherine Lee Bates, Thank You

We as Americans have much to be grateful for, the poem put to music, “Oh Beautiful for Spacious Skies”, covers much of that. I read Aaron Park’s piece this morning as he explained how the music sung during the 7th inning stretch got to him, “God Bless America”; mentioning that he thought it should be our National Anthem. I think Francis Scott Key has that as a lock; however, we have some really good runner ups.

“Oh beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain, for purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.

Oh beautiful for pilgrim feet, whose stern impassioned stress a thoroughfare of freedom beat a cross the wilderness! America! America! God mend thine every flaw, confirm they soul in self control they liberty in law.

Oh beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife who more than self their country loved and mercy more than life! America! America! May God thy gold refine till all success be nobleness, and every gain divine.

Oh beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years, thine alabaster cities gleam undimmed by human tears. America! America! God shed his grace on thee and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.”

This is another hymn that I am unable to complete as my emotions take over. It’s a little like the scene from the Sound of Music as the Captain attempts to sing, “Edelweiss”, and has to have help from the entire audience when he can no longer continue, choked with emotion. I appreciate the blessings we have been given and how they were s-Oh beautifully expressed by a school teacher’s poem. Thank you Katherine Lee Bates.

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