When Katharine Lee Bates, reached the top of Pike’s Peak in Colorado, she took in the majestic wonders of God’s creation and was inspired to write “America the Beautiful.” This poem was first published on July 4, 1895. “America the Beautiful” was later turned into the song. This ballad comes second to “The Star-Spangled Banner” as our country’s National Anthem.
By Katharine Lee Bates (1859-1929)
Music by Samuel Augustus Howe (1847-1903)
O 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!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassion’d stress
A thorough fare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness.
America! America!
God mend thine ev’ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.
O beautiful for heroes prov’d
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 ev’ry gain divine.
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabster 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.
“America the Beautiful” is my favorite patriotic song. These lyrics came from the beauty of God’s creation. I cannot think of a more appropriate time to speak of American patriotism than today, I feel as if I received an assignment from my fifth-grade teacher Mrs. Duffy to write an essay on the Fourth of July. So here is my long overdue composition.
Purple is my favorite color, especially this time of year when the stately Jacarandas are in full bloom. Other times of the year these trees blend in with the rest of all green trees. Jacarandas designer clothing is from above, dressed up in their best purple array of flowers that bloom endlessly. The Jacarandas welcome in late spring, and peak in early July. These trees return again for a standing ovation right before winter. They color the sky and scape the earth with purple, and fill the air with a sweet scent of heaven. California is the only place where Jacarandas bloom twice a year. This is my purple majesty, and it connects me to a tangible beauty of our country, and this is one of many reasons why I love the good old USA.
The state of mind of America does not reflect her beauty. America’s spirit is broken, so until we settle our differences, I choose to look beyond and welcome her big sky and all that encompasses her glorious scenery.
Our flag will fly perched on the rooftop, on the Fourth of July. It will make a statement of patriotism. It will adorn our home with pride, and the red, white and blue will forever wave to all who pass by. I am an American that still believes the lyrics inspired by God, written by Katharine Lee Bates. I hold on to the verse “God shed His grace on thee” as an infallible truth as to how our country was established. We are still one nation under God, striving to keep our country at peace, and with God nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37).
My Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I ask that You would give us all a sign of Your holy presence in our country. We are so divided, and it seems that all hope is vanished. Only You Lord can bring us back to one nation under God. Only You can restore what was lost. By Your model, teach us to be loving, respectful, and accepting of others differences. Guide us to do Your holy will. Amen
