 | The silver bridge and other poems |  |
92
THE SILENT BATTLE.
The war that Spring and Winter wage
Goes on in silence, day by day;
Strong youth against decrepid age,
New growth opposed to dark decay;
Goes on in silence, day by day;
Strong youth against decrepid age,
New growth opposed to dark decay;
The strife of hope against despair,
Life against death; and morn by morn,
A tenderer warmth is in the air,
And richer hues and hopes are born.
Life against death; and morn by morn,
A tenderer warmth is in the air,
And richer hues and hopes are born.
And lo, on every side appears
The hurrying host of Spring's advance—
The crowding grass, with bristling spears,
The brook-side rushes' ready lance,
The hurrying host of Spring's advance—
The crowding grass, with bristling spears,
The brook-side rushes' ready lance,
The javelins of daring reeds,
The iris-sprout's keen bayonet-thrust,
With rank and file of sturdy weeds
Rising exultant from the dust.
The iris-sprout's keen bayonet-thrust,
With rank and file of sturdy weeds
Rising exultant from the dust.
93
Each day a fresher guidon flaunts,
Marking the vantage-ground by turns;
The arrow-heads of water-plants,
The hard-clenched fists of valiant ferns,
Marking the vantage-ground by turns;
The arrow-heads of water-plants,
The hard-clenched fists of valiant ferns,
The willow's pennons, brave and fair,
The wild-flag's sharp and slender blade,
With every force of earth and air,
Join boldly in the glad crusade,
The wild-flag's sharp and slender blade,
With every force of earth and air,
Join boldly in the glad crusade,
Till Winter's sullen struggles cease,
And cold and darkness fail and flee,
And all the hills are fair with peace,
And green with palms of victory.
And cold and darkness fail and flee,
And all the hills are fair with peace,
And green with palms of victory.
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