(Admiral Perry’s Landing in Japan)
In the gentle breeze that cooled that distant shore,
A quiver stood, and fear road high.
Excitement gathered in their hearts.
A man strode into destiny,
And a million hearts, unborn, cried.
Unwilling eyes moved from past to future times.
Ambition, drive, heedlessness of others ways;
Anger, fear, awe, and, yes, courage;
Face to face, spoke mock courtesy.
With sighs that moved the inert soul,
A nation turned and fixed its eyes
Upon a new worlds uncompromising goals.