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| WE come, the children of thy Vinland, | |
| The youngest of the world’s high peers, | |
| O land of steel, and song, and saga, | |
| To greet thy glorious thousand years! | |
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| Across that sea the son of Erik | 5 |
| Dared with his venturous dragon’s prow; | |
| From shores where Thorfinn set thy banner, | |
| Their latest children seek thee now. | |
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| Hail, mother-land of skalds and heroes, | |
| By love of freedom hither hurled, | 10 |
| Fire in their hearts as in thy mountains, | |
| And strength like thine to shake the world! | |
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| When war and ravage wrecked the nations, | |
| The bird of song made thee her home; | |
| The ancient gods, the ancient glory, | 15 |
| Still dwelt within thy shores of foam. | |
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| Here, as a fount may keep its virtue | |
| While all the rivers turbid run, | |
| The manly growth of deed and daring | |
| Was thine beneath a scantier sun. | 20 |
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| Set far apart, neglected, exiled, | |
| Thy children wrote their runes of pride, | |
| With power that brings, in this thy triumph, | |
| The conquering nations to thy side. | |
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| What though thy native harps be silent, | 25 |
| The chord they struck shall ours prolong: | |
| We claim thee kindred, call thee mother, | |
| O land of saga, steel, and song! | |
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