THE CRISIS.[7]
The roar of battle peals afar.In lurid haze, the Northern starGleams through the flaming clouds of war;Death rides the burning blast.What havoc on the groaning plain!What never ending heaps of slain!What tepid pools of purple rain!—We look, and stand aghast.And still the strife resounds abroad,Earth trembles, and her forests nod,As if she felt the stamp of God,And heard His voice at last.He speaks, indeed! Who hath an earTo learn His will, may hark and hearThese hallowed words, to freedom dear,Tyrants, release the slave!And till that mandate is obeyed,May Northern hearts beat undismayed,And all the world, with generous aid,Cheer on the loyal brave.Ha! o’er the Southern plains shall spreadThe children of the honoured dead,And evermore above their headThe dear old flag shall wave;—Shall wave with all its stars, a signThat though the hosts of hell combine,The cause of freedom is divine,And slavery must expire.A sign that, not in vain, the greatAnd good of every clime and stateHave battled with a bloody fate,Breathing heroic fire.I love the flag, because it flingsDefiance in the face of kings,While Liberty expands her wingsTo crown the world’s desire.
The roar of battle peals afar.In lurid haze, the Northern starGleams through the flaming clouds of war;Death rides the burning blast.What havoc on the groaning plain!What never ending heaps of slain!What tepid pools of purple rain!—We look, and stand aghast.And still the strife resounds abroad,Earth trembles, and her forests nod,As if she felt the stamp of God,And heard His voice at last.He speaks, indeed! Who hath an earTo learn His will, may hark and hearThese hallowed words, to freedom dear,Tyrants, release the slave!And till that mandate is obeyed,May Northern hearts beat undismayed,And all the world, with generous aid,Cheer on the loyal brave.Ha! o’er the Southern plains shall spreadThe children of the honoured dead,And evermore above their headThe dear old flag shall wave;—Shall wave with all its stars, a signThat though the hosts of hell combine,The cause of freedom is divine,And slavery must expire.A sign that, not in vain, the greatAnd good of every clime and stateHave battled with a bloody fate,Breathing heroic fire.I love the flag, because it flingsDefiance in the face of kings,While Liberty expands her wingsTo crown the world’s desire.
The roar of battle peals afar.In lurid haze, the Northern starGleams through the flaming clouds of war;Death rides the burning blast.
What havoc on the groaning plain!What never ending heaps of slain!What tepid pools of purple rain!—We look, and stand aghast.
And still the strife resounds abroad,Earth trembles, and her forests nod,As if she felt the stamp of God,And heard His voice at last.
He speaks, indeed! Who hath an earTo learn His will, may hark and hearThese hallowed words, to freedom dear,Tyrants, release the slave!
And till that mandate is obeyed,May Northern hearts beat undismayed,And all the world, with generous aid,Cheer on the loyal brave.
Ha! o’er the Southern plains shall spreadThe children of the honoured dead,And evermore above their headThe dear old flag shall wave;—
Shall wave with all its stars, a signThat though the hosts of hell combine,The cause of freedom is divine,And slavery must expire.
A sign that, not in vain, the greatAnd good of every clime and stateHave battled with a bloody fate,Breathing heroic fire.
I love the flag, because it flingsDefiance in the face of kings,While Liberty expands her wingsTo crown the world’s desire.
[7]These lines were written in reference to the American civil war, at the time known as “Grant’s Battles in the Wilderness,” when, in a note to the War Department, (May 11, 1864), he penned those memorable words, “I propose to fight it out on this line, if it takes all summer.”
[7]These lines were written in reference to the American civil war, at the time known as “Grant’s Battles in the Wilderness,” when, in a note to the War Department, (May 11, 1864), he penned those memorable words, “I propose to fight it out on this line, if it takes all summer.”
[7]These lines were written in reference to the American civil war, at the time known as “Grant’s Battles in the Wilderness,” when, in a note to the War Department, (May 11, 1864), he penned those memorable words, “I propose to fight it out on this line, if it takes all summer.”