The remnant through the batteries broke And crossed the works with Armistead.
"Once more in Glory's van with me!"
Virginia cried to Tennessee;
"We two together, come what may,
Shall stand upon these works to-day!"
(The reddest day in history.)
Brave Tennessee! In reckless way
Virginia heard her comrade say:
"Close round this rent and riddled rag!"
What time she set her battle-flag
Amid the guns of Doubleday.
But who shall break the guards that wait
Before the awful face of Fate ?
The tattered standards of the South
Were shriveled at the cannon's mouth,
And all her hopes were desolate.
In vain the Tennesseean set
His breast against the bayonet!
In vain Virginia charged and raged,
A tigress in her wrath uncaged,
Till all the hill was red and wet!
Above the bayonets, mixed and crossed,
Men saw a gray, gigantic ghost
Receding through the battle-cloud,
And heard across the tempest loud
The death-cry of a nation lost!
The brave went down! Without disgrace
They leaped to Ruin's red embrace.
They only heard Fame's thunders wake,
And saw the dazzling sun-burst break
In smiles on Glory's bloody face!
They fell, who lifted up a hand
And bade the sun in heaven to stand!
They smote and fell, who set the bars
Against the progress of the stars,
And stayed the march of Motherland!
They stood, who saw the future come
On through the fight's delirium !
They smote and stood, who held the hope
Of nations on that slippery slope
Amid the cheers of Christendom.
God lives! He forged the iron will
That clutched and held that trembling hill.
God lives and reigns! He built and lent
The heights for Freedom's battlement
Where floats her flag in triumph still!
Fold up the banners! Smelt the guns!
Love rules. Her gentler purpose runs.
A mighty mother turns in tears
The pages of her battle years,
Lamenting all her fallen sons!
COME LOVE OR DEATH
O LIFTED face of mute appeal!
Poor tongueless pantomime of prayer!
O sullen sea, whose deeps conceal
The children of despair!
O heart that will not look above!
Poor staggering feet that seek the wave!"
I would come quick, if I were Love,
And I had power to save.
O sinking sunset loneliness
Aflame in hot, unmoving eyes!
Poor wan lips, creeping in distress
To cover up your cries!
O broken speech, and sobbing breath!
Poor restless and uncertain will!
I would come quick, if I were Death,
And I had power to kill!
Bird in the darkness singing,
I will not forget!
Trill me thy tender lay again,
Thy song of passion and of pain;
Set all the sweet vale ringing
With thy canzonet.
Cling to thy branch, O bird, and cry,
"Love me, my love, or let me die !"
With ecstasy I hear thee,
And trembling linger near thee;
So let thine exquisite pure melody o'erflow this narrow space, and inundate the sky!
The winds that wander by
Will bear it to my love;
But I need not to prove
My loyalty with song,
For I have loved her long!
No! No!
Bird in the darkness singing,
I will not forget!
Great river nobly flowing,
I will not forget!
Tell every flower that bends to kiss
Thy wave, how truest lover's bliss
Within my heart is glowing,
In my soul stays yet!
With murmur sweet, fair stream, pro claim
The magic of my lady's name
To every graceful willow
That sways above each billow;
To every reed beside thy banks so broad and low tell of her beauty and her spotless fame.
But seek not me to blame,
For I am loyal still;
My heart knows but her will;
The thought of her caress
Is ever here to bless:
Great river nobly flowing, I will not forget.
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