 | [Poems by Willis in] Poetical pen-pictures of the War |  |
149
VOLUNTEERED.
BEFORE THE FIGHT AT FREDERICK, MO., OCTOBER 15TH, '61.
I know the sun shines, and the lilacs are blowing,
And Summer sends kisses by beautiful May—
Oh! to see all the treasures the Spring is bestowing,
And think—my boy Willie enlisted to-day!
And Summer sends kisses by beautiful May—
Oh! to see all the treasures the Spring is bestowing,
And think—my boy Willie enlisted to-day!
It seems but a day since at twilight low humming,
I rocked him to sleep with his cheek upon mine,
While Robby the four-year old watched for the coming
Of father, adown the street's indistinct line.
I rocked him to sleep with his cheek upon mine,
While Robby the four-year old watched for the coming
Of father, adown the street's indistinct line.
It is many a year since my Harry departed,
To come back no more in the twilight or dawn;
And Robby grew weary of watching, and started
Alone, on the journey his father had gone.
To come back no more in the twilight or dawn;
And Robby grew weary of watching, and started
Alone, on the journey his father had gone.
It is many a year—and this afternoon, sitting
At Robby's old window, I heard the band play,
And suddenly ceased dreaming over my knitting
To recollect Willie is twenty to-day;
At Robby's old window, I heard the band play,
And suddenly ceased dreaming over my knitting
To recollect Willie is twenty to-day;
150
That, standing beside him this soft May-day morning,
The sun making gold of his wreathed cigar-smoke,
I saw in his sweet eyes and lips a faint warning,
And choked down the tears when he eagerly spoke:
The sun making gold of his wreathed cigar-smoke,
I saw in his sweet eyes and lips a faint warning,
And choked down the tears when he eagerly spoke:
“Dear mother, you know those traitors are crowing,
They trample the folds of our flag in the dust;
The boys are all fire; and they wish I were going—”
He stopped, but his eyes said, “Oh say if I must!”
They trample the folds of our flag in the dust;
The boys are all fire; and they wish I were going—”
He stopped, but his eyes said, “Oh say if I must!”
I smiled on the boy though my heart seemed breaking:
My eyes filled with tears, so I turned them away,
And answered him, “Willie, 'tis well you are waking,
Go, act as your father would bid you, to-day!”
My eyes filled with tears, so I turned them away,
And answered him, “Willie, 'tis well you are waking,
Go, act as your father would bid you, to-day!”
I sit in the window and see the flags flying,
And dreamly list to the roll of the drum,
And smother the pain in my heart that is lying,
And bid all the fears in my bosom be dumb.
And dreamly list to the roll of the drum,
And smother the pain in my heart that is lying,
And bid all the fears in my bosom be dumb.
I shall sit in the window when Summer is lying
Out over the fields, and the honey-bees' hum,
Lulls the rose at the porch from tremulous sighing,
And watch for the face of my darling to come.
Out over the fields, and the honey-bees' hum,
Lulls the rose at the porch from tremulous sighing,
And watch for the face of my darling to come.
And if he should fall—his young life he has given
For Freedom's sweet sake—and for me I will pray
Once more with my Harry, and Robby in Heaven,
To meet the dear boy that enlisted to-day.
For Freedom's sweet sake—and for me I will pray
Once more with my Harry, and Robby in Heaven,
To meet the dear boy that enlisted to-day.
345
WHY.
CAPTURE OF REBEL CAMP NEAR BERRYVILLE, VA., OCTOBER 29TH, '62.
Twenty millions held at bay!
Why, Northmen, why?
Less than half maintain the day,
Why, Northmen, why?
With the sturdy iron will,
With the pluck, the dash, the skill,
With the blood of Bunker Hill,
Why, Northmen, why?
Why, Northmen, why?
Less than half maintain the day,
Why, Northmen, why?
With the sturdy iron will,
With the pluck, the dash, the skill,
With the blood of Bunker Hill,
Why, Northmen, why?
Standing yet are Sumter's walls—
Why, Northmen, why?
Slumber yet the avenging balls—
Why, Northmen, why?
Charleston left to scoff at ease!
Richmond vaunting as it please!
Traitor taunts on every breeze!
Why, Northmen, why?
Why, Northmen, why?
Slumber yet the avenging balls—
Why, Northmen, why?
Charleston left to scoff at ease!
Richmond vaunting as it please!
Traitor taunts on every breeze!
Why, Northmen, why?
Hear our wounded eagle wail!
Why, Statesmen, why?
See our spangled banner trail!
Why, Statesmen, why?
Coward England mocks again!
Courtly Paris shrugs disdain!
Cordial Russia throbs with pain!
Why, Statesmen, why?
Why, Statesmen, why?
See our spangled banner trail!
Why, Statesmen, why?
Coward England mocks again!
Courtly Paris shrugs disdain!
Cordial Russia throbs with pain!
Why, Statesmen, why?
346
By our past, so bright renowned,
On, Northmen, on!
By our future, starry-crowned,
On, Northmen, on!
By the South, deceived, misled,
By our hundred thousand dead,
Who for North and South have bled,
On, Northmen, on!
On, Northmen, on!
By our future, starry-crowned,
On, Northmen, on!
By the South, deceived, misled,
By our hundred thousand dead,
Who for North and South have bled,
On, Northmen, on!
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