By the driven snow-white and the living blood-red Of my bars and their heaven of stars overhead – By the symbol conjoined of them all, skyward cast, As I float from the steeple or flap at the mast, 5 Or droop o'er the sod where the long grasses nod, My name is as old as the glory of God. So I came by the name of Old Glory. A Life Lesson 10 There! little girl; don't cry! And your tea-set blue, And your play-house, too, 15 There! little girl; don't cry! And the glad, wild ways Of your school-girl days They have broken your heart, I know; 20 LOVE'S PRAYER 87 And the rainbow gleams Of your youthful dreams BAYARD TAYLOR AMERICA, 1825–1878 The Song of the Camp “Give us a song!” the soldiers cried, The outer trenches guarding, Grew weary of bombarding. 5 The dark Redan, in silent scoff, Lay, grim and threatening, under; No longer belched its thunder. 10 There was a pause. A guardsman said: “We storm the forts to-morrow; Sing while we may, another day Will bring enough of sorrow.' They lay along the battery's side, Below the smoking cannon, And from the banks of Shannon. 15 They sang of love, and not of fame; Forgot was Britain's glory; But all sang “Annie Laurie." 20 THE SONG OF THE CAMP 89 Voice after voice caught up the song, Until its tender passion Their battle eve confession. Dear girl! her name he dared not speak; But as the song grew louder, Something upon the soldier's cheek Washed off the stains of powder. 10 Beyond the darkening ocean burned The bloody sunset's embers, While the Crimean valleys learned How English love remembers. And once again a fire of hell Rained on the Russian quarters, With scream of shot and burst of shell, And bellowing of the mortars! 15 And Irish Nora's eyes are dim For a singer dumb and gory; And English Mary mourns for him Who sang of "Annie Laurie." 20 Sleep, soldiers ! still in honored rest Your truth and valor wearing; The bravest are the tenderest, The loving are the daring. HENRY VAN DYKE AMERICA, 1852– The Angler's Reveille What time the rose of dawn is laid across the lips of night, And all the drowsy little stars have fallen asleep in light; 'Tis then a wandering mind awakens, and runs from tree to tree, And borrows words from all the birds to sound the reveille. 10 This is the carol the Robin throws Over the edge of the valley; Tirra lirra, 15 Wake up! |