Part 12 (1/2)

They knew the joy, but leaped the grief, Like plants that flower ere comes the leaf-- Which storms lay low in kindly doom, And kill them in their flush of bloom.

AMERICA

I Where the wings of a sunny Dome expand I saw a Banner in gladsome air-- Starry, like Berenice's Hair-- Afloat in broadened bravery there; With undulating long-drawn flow, As tolled Brazilian billows go Voluminously o'er the Line.

The Land reposed in peace below; The children in their glee Were folded to the exulting heart Of young Maternity.

II Later, and it streamed in fight When tempest mingled with the fray, And over the spear-point of the shaft I saw the ambiguous lightning play.

Valor with Valor strove, and died: Fierce was Despair, and cruel was Pride; And the lorn Mother speechless stood, Pale at the fury of her brood.

III Yet later, and the silk did wind Her fair cold form; Little availed the s.h.i.+ning shroud, Though ruddy in hue, to cheer or warm.

A watcher looked upon her low, and said-- She sleeps, but sleeps, she is not dead.

But in that sleeps contortion showed The terror of the vision there-- A silent vision unavowed, Revealing earth's foundation bare, And Gorgon in her hidden place.

It was a thing of fear to see So foul a dream upon so fair a face, And the dreamer lying in that starry shroud.

IV But from the trance she sudden broke-- The trance, or death into promoted life; At her feet a s.h.i.+vered yoke, And in her aspect turned to heaven No trace of pa.s.sion or of strife-- A clear calm look. It spake of pain, But such as purifies from stain-- Sharp pangs that never come again-- And triumph repressed by knowledge meet, Power dedicate, and hope grown wise, And youth matured for age's seat-- Law on her brow and empire in her eyes.

So she, with graver air and lifted flag; While the shadow, chased by light, Fled along the far-drawn height, And left her on the crag.

INSCRIPTION _For Graves at Pea Ridge, Arkansas_

Let none misgive we died amiss When here we strove in furious fight: Furious it was; nathless was this Better than tranquil plight, And tame surrender of the Cause Hallowed by hearts and by the laws.

We here who warred for Man and Right, The choice of warring never laid with us.

There we were ruled by the traitor's choice.

Nor long we stood to trim and poise, But marched and fell--victorious!

THE FORt.i.tUDE OF THE NORTH _Under the Disaster of the Second Mana.s.sas_

They take no shame for dark defeat While prizing yet each victory won, Who fight for the Right through all retreat, Nor pause until their work is done.

The Cape-of-Storms is proof to every throe; Vainly against that foreland beat Wild winds aloft and wilder waves below: The black cliffs gleam through rents in sleet When the livid Antarctic storm-clouds glow.

THE MOUND BY THE LAKE

The gra.s.s shall never forget this grave.

When homeward footing it in the sun After the weary ride by rail, The stripling soldiers pa.s.sed her door, Wounded perchance, or wan and pale, She left her household work undone-- Duly the wayside table spread, With evergreens shaded, to regale Each travel-spent and grateful one.