The Kansas Emigrants by John Greenleaf Whittier

….The Kansas Emigrants

We cross the prairie as of old
…The Pilgrims crossed the sea,
To make the West, as they the East,
…The homestead of the free. 

We go to rear a wall of men
…On Freedom’s southern line,
And plant beside the cotton tree
…The rugged Northern pine! 

We’re flowing from our native hills
…As our free rivers flow:
The blessing of our Motherland
…Is on us as we go. 

We go to plant her common schools
…On distant prairie swells,
And give the Sabbaths of the wild
…The music of her bells. 

Upbearing, like the Ark of Old,
…The Bible in our van,
We go to test the truth of God
…Against the fraud of man. 

No pause, nor rest, save where the streams
…That feed the Kansas run,
Save where our Pilgrim gonfalon
…Shall flout the setting sun! 

We’ll tread the prairie as of old
…Our fathers sailed the sea,
And make the West, as they the East,
…The homestead of the free!

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gonfalon – a flag, a banner

 

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