Motherland

She stands a thousand-wintered tree 
By countless morns impearled; 
Her broad roots coil beneath the sea, 
Her branches sweep the world ; 
Her seeds, by careless winds conveyed, 
Clothe the remotest strand 
With forests from her scatterings made, 
New nations fostered in her shade 
And linking land with land. 

O ye by wandering tempest sown 
'Neath every alien star, 
Forget not whence the breath was blown 
That wafted you afar ! 
For ye are still her ancient seed 
On younger soil let fall -- 
Children of Britain's island-breed, 
To whom the Mother in her need 
Perchance may one day call. 

Behold, she is risen who lay asleep so long, 
Our England, our Belovèd ! We have seen 
The swelling of the waters, we have heard 
The thundering cataracts call. Behold, she is risen, 
Lovelier in resurrection than the face 
Of vale or mountain, when, with storming tears, 
At all Earth's portals knocks the importunate Spring. 

We watched her sleeping. Day and night we strove 
With the dread spell that drowsed her heart. And thrice 
In the unrest of her sick dreams she stirred, 
Half raised herself, half oped her lips and lids, 
And thrice the evil charm prevailed, and thrice 
She fell back forceless. But behold, she is risen, 
The Hope of the World is risen, is risen anew.

Behold, she is risen who lay asleep so long, 
Our England, our Belovèd ! We have seen 
The swelling of the waters, we have heard 
The thundering cataracts call. Behold, she is risen, 
Lovelier in resurrection than the face 
Of vale or mountain, when, with storming tears, 
At all Earth's portals knocks the importunate Spring. 

We watched her sleeping. Day and night we strove 
With the dread spell that drowsed her heart. And thrice 
In the unrest of her sick dreams she stirred, 
Half raised herself, half oped her lips and lids, 
And thrice the evil charm prevailed, and thrice 
She fell back forceless. But behold, she is risen, 
The Hope of the World is risen, is risen anew.