Poland

Poland.

Poor trampled Poland! from my earliest years

My heart has beat in sympathy with thee:
And hopeless it now may seem to be,
Doubt not the day will come when all thy tears
Will change to smiles; for Peace and Liberty 5
Must yet bless brave Sarmatia.[1] Think not the blood
Of Patriots can sink into the mud
Merely as rich manure. The tyranny
Of Russ and German yet shall pass away:
The day is coming when they will be free 10
In their own lands, hating all slavery;
When heavenly Freedom will prevail for aye
Through all the world, and nations all will cease
To injure one another, seeking to dwell in peace.

George Markham Tweddell

p. 82 [in Miscellaneous Sonnets]
[1An ancient name often used to define an area outside the bounds of the
Roman empire towards the Baltic Sea.]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Poland_(1795%E2%80%931918)