Beyond the pale of cloudless sky,
Evil streaked,
There was no why.
Twisted, tangled terror born,
Reckoned by demented scorn
Of Freedom's Promise
--Wrenching darkness on Tuesday's morn.

Chaos wrought this iniquity writ
Of panicked plunges
Through billowing grit.
And heroes ran to aid them all
Knowing not the coming fall
Of horror hunting innocence
--And searing a people standing tall.

Words failed, nigh the hour
Antietam Creek
Compared with our
Day of infamy this century new.
But We the People, those words we knew
Hearked to patriots
--Who fought anew.

These times again now try men's souls.
Common Sense
That forged our goals
Plus blood and sweat to set men free
Birthed our sweet land of liberty.
But the dove departs...
--Oh, say, can you see?

Give us then faith, our fathers, to endure
The coming struggle
Of all free people to assure
The purple mountains' majesty
And that fruited plain to shining sea;
Til the dove returns
--Braved home of the free.

Thus united we stand, tho' battlefields red;
Bunker Hill, Gettysburg, Normandy's dead.
Noble deeds of valorous accord,
Sacrifices given to liberty's lord,
But the hour approaches
--And that terrible swifth sword.