Following is the original version of the poem, entitled “America.” What changes do you note between this version and the revised poem that appeared in Bates’s collection of poetry? What are the effects of these changes?America. A Poem for July 4.
O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
God shed His grace on thee,
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
God shed His grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!
O beautiful for glory-tale
When once or twice, for man’s avail,
Men lavished precious life!
God shed His grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain,
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
God shed His grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Question
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Exploring the Text: - Following is the original version of the poem, entitled “America.” What changes do you note between this version and the revised poem that appeared in Bates’s collection of poetry? What are the effects of these changes?America. A Poem for July 4.O beautiful for halcyon skies,For amber waves of grain,For purple mountain majestiesAbove the enameled plain!5America! America!God shed His grace on thee,Till souls wax fair as earth and airAnd music-hearted sea!O beautiful for pilgrim feet10Whose stern, impassioned stressA thoroughfare for freedom beatAcross the wilderness!America! America!God shed His grace on thee15Till paths be wrought through wilds of thoughtBy pilgrim foot and knee!O beautiful for glory-taleOf liberating strife,When once or twice, for man’s avail,20Men lavished precious life!America! America!God shed His grace on theeTill selfish gain no longer stain,The banner of the free!25O beautiful for patriot dreamThat sees beyond the yearsThine alabaster cities gleamUndimmed by human tears!America! America!30God shed His grace on theeTill nobler men keep once againThy whiter jubilee!