The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley in ten volumes |
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A PEACE-HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC
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 | The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley |  |
1689
A PEACE-HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1895: TWENTY-NINTH ENCAMPMENT, G. A. R.
There's a Voice across the Nation like a mighty ocean-hail,
Borne up from out the Southward as the seas before the gale;
Its breath is in the streaming Flag and in the flying sail—
As we go sailing on.
Borne up from out the Southward as the seas before the gale;
Its breath is in the streaming Flag and in the flying sail—
As we go sailing on.
'Tis a Voice that we remember—ere its summons soothed as now—
When it rang in battle-challenge, and we answered vow with vow,—
With roar of gun and hiss of sword and crash of prow and prow,
As we went sailing on.
When it rang in battle-challenge, and we answered vow with vow,—
With roar of gun and hiss of sword and crash of prow and prow,
As we went sailing on.
Our hope sank, even as we saw the sun sink faint and far,—
The Ship of State went groping through the blinding smoke of War—
Through blackest midnight lurching, all uncheered of moon or star,
Yet sailing—sailing on.
The Ship of State went groping through the blinding smoke of War—
Through blackest midnight lurching, all uncheered of moon or star,
Yet sailing—sailing on.
1690
As One who spake the dead awake, with life-blood leaping warm—
Who walked the troubled waters, all unscathed, in mortal form,—
We felt our Pilot's presence with His hand upon the storm,
As we went sailing on.
Who walked the troubled waters, all unscathed, in mortal form,—
We felt our Pilot's presence with His hand upon the storm,
As we went sailing on.
O Voice of passion lulled to peace, this dawning of To-day—
O Voices twain now blent as one, ye sing all fears away,
Since foe and foe are friends, and lo! the Lord, as glad as they.—
He sends us sailing on.
O Voices twain now blent as one, ye sing all fears away,
Since foe and foe are friends, and lo! the Lord, as glad as they.—
He sends us sailing on.
| The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley | |