 | Western windows and other poems |  |
175
THE NESTS AT WASHINGTON.
Before the White House portals,
The careless eyes behold
Three iron bombs uplifted,
Adusk in summer gold.
The careless eyes behold
Three iron bombs uplifted,
Adusk in summer gold.
In dreamy mood I wander'd
At Sabbath sunset there,
While the wide city's murmur
Hummed vaguely everywhere:
At Sabbath sunset there,
While the wide city's murmur
Hummed vaguely everywhere:
“Black seeds of desolation,”
I said, “by War's red hand
Sown in the fierce sirocco
Over the wasted Land!
I said, “by War's red hand
Sown in the fierce sirocco
Over the wasted Land!
“Unholy with the holy,
What do ye here to-day,
Symbols of awful battle,
In Sabbath's peaceful ray?”
What do ye here to-day,
Symbols of awful battle,
In Sabbath's peaceful ray?”
176
Angel of Dust and Darkness!
I heard thy woeful breath,
With noise of all earth's battles,
Answer: “Let there be Death!”
I heard thy woeful breath,
With noise of all earth's battles,
Answer: “Let there be Death!”
I thought of many a midnight,
Where sprang terrific light
Over wide woods and marshes;
Fierce fire-flies lit the night.
Where sprang terrific light
Over wide woods and marshes;
Fierce fire-flies lit the night.
I saw beleaguer'd bastions
Leap up in red dismay,
Wide rivers all transfigured
Awake in dreadful day.
Leap up in red dismay,
Wide rivers all transfigured
Awake in dreadful day.
Asleep in peaceful sunshine
Glimmer'd the warlike things:
Into their hollow horror
Flew tenderest summer wings!
Glimmer'd the warlike things:
Into their hollow horror
Flew tenderest summer wings!
Deep in the awful chambers
Of the gigantic Death,
The wrens their nests had builded
And dwelt with loving breath.
Of the gigantic Death,
The wrens their nests had builded
And dwelt with loving breath.
177
Angel of Resurrection!
Over all buried strife
I heard thy bird-song whisper,
Sweetly, “Let there be Life!”
Over all buried strife
I heard thy bird-song whisper,
Sweetly, “Let there be Life!”
Washington, D. C., June, 1862.
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