Explore "Urbs Coronata (Songs for America)" by Henry Van Dyke on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
(Song for the City College of New York)
O youngest of the giant brood / Of cities far-renowned; / In wealth and power thou hast passed / Thy rivals at a bound; / And now thou art a queen, New York; / And how wilt thou be crowned?
"Weave me no palace-wreath of pride," / The royal city said; / "Nor forge an iron fortress-wall / To frown upon my head; / But let me wear a diadem / Of Wisdom's towers instead."
And so upon her island height / She worked her will forsooth, / She set upon her rocky brow / A citadel of Truth, / A house of Light, a home of Thought, / A shrine of noble Youth.
Stand here, ye City College towers, / And look both up and down; / Remember all who wrought for you / Within the toiling town; / Remember all they thought for you, / And all the hopes they brought for you, / And be the City's Crown.