Poetry Friday--Fourth of July Ode

In celebration of Independence Day, let's look at "Fourth of July Ode," by James Russell Lowell:

I
Our fathers fought for Liberty,
They struggled long and well,
History of their deeds can tell--
But did they leave us free?

II
Are we free from vanity,
Free from pride, and free from self,
Free from love of power and pelf,
From everything that's beggarly?

III
Are we free from stubborn will,
From low hate and malice small,
From opinion's tyrant thrall?
Are none of us our own slaves still?

IV
Are we free to speak our thought,
To be happy, and be poor,
Free to enter Heaven's door,
To live and labor as we ought?

V
Are we then made free at last
From the fear of what men say,
Free to reverence Today,
Free from the slavery of the Past?

VI
Our fathers fought for liberty,
They struggled long and well,
History of their deeds can tell--
But ourselves must set us free.

Read this poem, and many more collected by Ralph Henry in My American Heritage [810.8 HEN].

Lowell lived from 1819 to 1891, so, yes, his poem is a little old-fashioned in style and language (have you ever come across the word pelf? [definition below]), but, the sentiments are applicable to today's America. Are we indeed free of pride, love of power, will, hate, malice, and pelf (substitute greed and instant-gratification for 21st century America)? Will we ever be? I'll leave you to ponder these questions this holiday weekend while you sit on the beach, or in the bleachers for some celebratory fireworks. Whatever you do, have fun and do it safely.

This week's Poetry Friday Round-Up is being hosted by Tabatha A. Yeatts.

pelf
–noun
money or wealth, esp. when regarded with contempt or acquired by reprehensible means.
Origin:
1300–50; ME < OF pelfre booty
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.