Her quarter of a thousand years.
And Life's fresh gladness and perfume.
Time proves at the hest of Reason.
Love's healing for the civic frame.
The Rose of Freedom is worth them all.
This Jersey blossom from Robert Treat.
And the brave thirty of his clan!
Works witchery naught may e'er despoil!
They laid foundations deep and strong.
And all the hosts of freedom shout it forevermore.
To keep our great committals from the dust.
List to the stir of the minute men!
And the tramping of arméd feet!
Washington, leading a great retreat!
Welcome them patriots, now as then!
And trailing pageantry of light!
Toll out the foeman's doom!
For sake of a golden dream!
When Jersey's blood was fire.
O Peace, thou gentle one!
For Beauty's architect thou art.
Its bolts of hate are flinging.
The elements of air and earth!
Rose from the dust to shining frame.
To us to whom our fathers' gifts were undenied.
War clouds were wildly gathering.
Riding to meet the approaching blast.
Out of thy deep heart-beats!
And anguish was mistress of love's embraces.
O City of heroes! Thou didst thy duty well.
Days of our golden heritage.
Peace is the garden that freemen win.
Out of ten thousand fiery vents.
This is the roar of a city's industrial life.
Offered to native and alien lands.
Sheer over smokestack and belching of flame.
And whence doth wisdom come?
And all thy radiant future's sum.
Since He is the Lord of Love.
Ascends out of life's turmoil.
To answer Love as 'twere their King.
Facing the Future's alluring spell.
Set all the whistles blowing!
Set all the flags a-flying!
Waiting her on the invaded sea.
Hers are the sea and the ships.
Blow, whistles blow! Wave flags unfurled!
Newark belongs to the world.
Lyman Whitney Allen was poet laureate of Newark's 250th anniversary festivities.