Similar Posts
FROM far Dakota’s cañons,
silence,Haply to-day a mournful wail, haply a trumpet-note for heroes.The battle-bulletin,The Indian ambuscade, the craft, the fatal environment,The cavalry companies fighting to the last in sternest heroism,In the midst of their little circle, with their slaughter’d horsesfor breastworks,The fall of Custer and all his officers and men.Continues yet the old, old legend of our race,The…
O STAR of France!
Like some proud ship that led the fleet so long,Beseems to-day a wreck, driven by the gale–a mastless hulk;And ‘mid its teeming, madden’d, half-drown’d crowds,Nor helm nor helmsman.Dim, smitten star!Orb not of France alone–pale symbol of my soul, its dearest hopes,The struggle and the daring–rage divine for liberty,Of aspirations toward the far ideal–enthusiast’s dreams ofbrotherhood,…
I SAW old General at bay;
His small force was now completely hemm’d in, in his works;He call’d for volunteers to run the enemy’s lines–a desperateemergency;I saw a hundred and more step forth from the ranks–but two or threewere selected;I saw them receive their orders aside–they listen’d with care–theadjutant was very grave;I saw them depart with cheerfulness, freely risking their lives.
FROM my last years, last thoughts I here bequeath,
Through moisture of Ohio, prairie soil of Illinois–through Colorado,California air,For Time to germinate fully.
As toilsome I wander’d Virginia’s woods,
I mark’d at the foot of a tree the grave of a soldier;Mortally wounded he and buried on the retreat, (easily all I could understand,)The halt of a midday hour, when up! no time to lose–yet this sign left,On a tablet scrawl’d and nail’d on the tree by the grave,Bold, cautious, true, and my loving…