University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The bird and the bell, with other poems

Cranch, Christopher Pearse (1813-1892)

collapse section 
[section]
  
[As one who in some cellar crypt has kept]
expand section 
THE BIRD AND THE BELL
  
THE THREE MUSES.
  
THE SHADOWED RIVER.
  
NOVEMBER TREES.
  
THE FLOWER AND THE BEE.
  
THE CATARACT ISLE.
  
IN THE GARDEN.
  
IN THE PINE WOODS.
  
LUNA THROUGH A LORGNETTE.
  
IN THE PALAIS ROYAL GARDEN.
  
CORNUCOPIA.
  
A FRIEND.
  
THE AUTUMN RAIN.
  
SPIRITS IN PRISON.
  
BLONDEL.
  
THE OLD DAYS AND THE NEW.
expand section 
WHY!
  
THROUGH THE FIELDS TO ST. PETER'S.
  
MARION DALE.
  
VEILS.
  
THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
  
ATALANTA.
  
AL HASSAN'S SECRET.
  
MY OLD PALETTE.
  
THE BOBOLINKS.
  
THE BOBOLINKS.
  
CRETE.
  
J. R. L.
  
SEA SHADOWS.
  
THE MOUNTAIN PATH.
  
BIRD LANGUAGE.
  
THE CHANGING YEAR.
  
SOFT, BROWN, SMILING EYES.
  
THE DREAM OF PILATE'S WIFE.
  
THE DISPUTE OF THE SEVEN DAYS.
  
A THRUSH IN A GILDED CAGE.
  
UNDER THE SKYLIGHT.
  
I IN THEE, AND THOU IN ME.
expand section 
TO THE MEMORY OF MARGARET FULLER OSSOLI.
  
IAPIS.
  
THE WORKSHOP AND THE BRONZE.
  
THE EVENING PRIMROSE.
  
IN A CHURCH.
  
DECEMBER.
  
A CHINESE STORY.
  
A SONG OF HOME.
  
A SPRING-GROWL.
  
WAITING BY THE SEA.
  
SHELLING PEAS.
  
LOUIS NAPOLEON.
  
BY THE SHORE OF THE RIVER.
  
THE AMERICAN PANTHEON.
  
IN THE FOREST OF FONTAINEBLEAU.
  
A DAY OF MEMORIES.
  
THE GUEST.
  
OCTOBER.
  
TO A HALF-FRIEND.
  
MUSIC.
  
COMPENSATION.
  
A BATTLE OF THE ELEMENTS.
  
MEMORIAL HALL.
  
DREAM-LIFE.
  
THE CENTURY AND THE NATION.
  
THE LAY OF THRYM; OR, THE HAMMER RECOVERED.
  
MICHAEL ANGELO BUONAROTTI.
  
ON RE-READING TENNYSON'S PRINCESS.
expand section 
SONNETS.
collapse section 
POEMS OF THE WAR.
  
THE BURIAL OF THE FLAG.
  
THE ROSE OF DEATH.
  
NOVEMBER 8TH, 1864.
collapse section 
SONNETS FOR THE TIMES.
 1. 
I. THE DARK TOWER.
 2. 
II. DELIVERANCE.
 3. 
III. THE ABOLITIONISTS.
 4. 
IV. THE DAWN OF PEACE.
 5. 
V. THE DEATH-BLOW.
 6. 
VI. THE MARTYR.
 7. 
VII. OUR COUNTRY.

collapse section Collapse All | Expand All expand section
previous section The bird and the bell, with other poems
next section
324

IV.
THE DAWN OF PEACE.

Four years of war have driven afar the dream
Of union based on hollow compromise.
We wake to see the auroral splendors stream
Across the battle smoke from opening skies.
The demon, shrieking, tears us as he flies
Exorcised from our wrenched and bleeding frame.
O costly ransom! dearly purchased prize!
Release too long delayed! from sin and shame,
From evil compacts and from brutal laws,
Whose iron network all the land encaged.
Force never triumphed in a juster cause,
Nor bloody war was e'er so justly waged.
Henceforth our banner greets a cloudless morn.
Peace dawns at last. The nation is re-born!
previous section The bird and the bell, with other poems
next section