"Wake Fair City" and Ode by James Davis

Read at Gloucester's 250th Celebration

I

Wake, fair City by the Sea!
Wake, and keep thy Jubilee !
Now call thy sons and daughters home ;
From every quarter bid them come,
And join thy children by the sea,
To swell thy song of Jubilee.
Let the sea lift up its voice,
Let our rocky shores rejoice,
Let our hills and valleys ring,
While our Jubilee we sing !
Wake, 0 people, strong and free,
In your City by the Sea!
All our voices join to sing, Make our hills and valleys ring!

II

Rise, fair Daughter of the Sea
Praise the Power that founded thee!
Who scooped thy well-formed basin out,
And stocked the waters 'round about,
Intent that hither should be drawn
Men of the stoutest bone and brawn,
From distant lands and neighboring shores,
In search of ocean's finny stores,
From thy fair haven sailing forth
To fishing banks south, east, and north.
Thus the Power whose forming hand
Joined the water to the land,
Daughter of the fruitful sea,
In his wisdom founded thee.

III.

Crowned with fair prosperity,
Growing City by the Sea
See, rising fair on every hand,
What noble structures grace thy land;
See, moored upon thy sheltered tide,
What fleet of swift-winged schooners ride,
Waiting the breath of favoring gale
To loose the cable, spread the sail,
And o'er the ocean-tide to sweep,
The harvest of the sea to reap.
City planted by the side
Of our pleasant northern tide,
Thus the treasures of the sea
Bring thee fair prosperity.

IV.

Rock-ribbed City by the Sea
Thy fair stones shall honor thee,
Where'er in stately piles they rise,
To meet the gaze of critic eyes;
But most honored art thou when
Thou sendest forth thy noble men,
Thy men of power and probity,
Faithful on the land and sea,
Trained in thy homes, thy fanes, and schools,
To form their lives by Christian rules.
Men of high integrity,
Travelling on land or sea,
Bearing, wheresoe'er they go,
Fame that virtue can bestow.

V.

Sons and daughters, fair and free,
Born and nurtured by the sea,
Let your hearts be brave and wide,
Like the broad Atlantic tide;
Be your spirits strong and hale,
Like the freshening ocean gale;
Now heed the call that comes to you,
To make your lives upright and true;
Let it be your worthy aim
To exalt your city's fame.
Sons and daughters by the sea,
Called to true nobility,
Keep alive the loyal flame !
Honor your fair city's name !

VI.

Fair-crowned Daughter of the Sea
Keep thy fair prosperity;
If thy crown thou still wouldst wear,
Make thy garments white and fair;
Let thy marts of trade be clean,
Put away the marts of sin.
By care and art, in due degree,
Be a conqueror of the sea,
So thy brave sons may safer ride
While toiling for thee on the tide.
Work the work of righteousness,
And thy sorrows shall be less;
And the foodful, friendly sea
Bring its tributes still to thee.

VII.

Turn, O City fair, and see
What thy future fame may be ;
If built on truth, thou shalt be seen
Sitting as an Ocean Queen ;
Thy queenly port and rule confessed
Through all our borders east and west;
The while thy full, outreaching hand
Scatters plenty through the land;
Thus gaining wealth and true renown,
And adding jewels to thy crown.
Rise, O City by the Sea
Reach thy large expectancy;
From thy years of toil and strife,
Rise to higher, better life.