February 12, 1809

[prairie_ribbon]

Appearing today on my poem-of-the-day calendar
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From "Lincoln, The Man of the People"

Up from the log cabin to the Capitol,
One fire was on his spirit, one resolve--
To send the keen ax to the root of wrong,
Clearing a free way for the feet of God,
The eyes of conscience testing every stroke,
To make his deed the measure of a man.
He built the rail-pile as he built the State,
Pouring his splendid strength through every blow;

The grip that swung the ax in Illinois
Was on the pen that set a people free.

---Edwin Markham