 | Drifted in |  |
(FIGHTING FOR PEACE.)
By the rough edge of our nation,
Where the shore fights with the waves,
Foreigners lofty of station
Fought 'gainst the conquest of graves.
Breezes were sparring around them,
Fierce-beating sunbeams had found them,
Agents of constant aggression
Strove for increase of possession:
Seabirds the snow-clouds surviving,
'Gainst the hot tempests were striving,
Creatures our free air would smother,
Warred in the waves with each other,
Even the pines in the distance,
Strove 'gainst each other's existence,
Even the flowerets' sweet growing
Campaigns of conquest was knowing.—
Not from this world are we learning
Lessons of love and of peace:
Nature, the quietudes spurning,
Never from warfare may cease.
Where the shore fights with the waves,
Foreigners lofty of station
Fought 'gainst the conquest of graves.
Breezes were sparring around them,
Fierce-beating sunbeams had found them,
Agents of constant aggression
Strove for increase of possession:
Seabirds the snow-clouds surviving,
'Gainst the hot tempests were striving,
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Warred in the waves with each other,
Even the pines in the distance,
Strove 'gainst each other's existence,
Even the flowerets' sweet growing
Campaigns of conquest was knowing.—
Not from this world are we learning
Lessons of love and of peace:
Nature, the quietudes spurning,
Never from warfare may cease.
When the iced rivulet hardens,
Growing too splendid to sing,
When in the trees' lofty gardens
Camp the brave blossoms of Spring,
When dimpled zephyrs are creeping
Over our waking or sleeping,
When in its cyclonic rushing
God's air God's children is crushing,
When from the harvest-sun glowing,
Life-streams and death-streams are flowing,
When, the black thunder-clouds bright'ning,
Dart the gold spears of the lightning,
All is a war, to our senses!—
Even Love's delicate thrill
Has its attacks and defences,
Either to cherish or kill.
Growing too splendid to sing,
When in the trees' lofty gardens
Camp the brave blossoms of Spring,
When dimpled zephyrs are creeping
Over our waking or sleeping,
When in its cyclonic rushing
God's air God's children is crushing,
When from the harvest-sun glowing,
Life-streams and death-streams are flowing,
When, the black thunder-clouds bright'ning,
Dart the gold spears of the lightning,
All is a war, to our senses!—
Even Love's delicate thrill
Has its attacks and defences,
Either to cherish or kill.
When, the east vestibule lighting,
Swings the sun's lantern on high,
Rays with the darkness are fighting,
On the blue fields of the sky.
As through the measureless arches,
In their ne'er bivouacked marches
Pass 'mid rich Ether's possessions
Stars in ne'er-halting processions,
In each bright mile of their courses,
Forces are struggling with forces,
Thus the safe balances keeping,
While through the universe sweeping.
Not from the stars we are learning
Lessons of peace for our souls:
Only by strifes in their turning,
Order can keep its controls.
Swings the sun's lantern on high,
Rays with the darkness are fighting,
On the blue fields of the sky.
As through the measureless arches,
In their ne'er bivouacked marches
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Stars in ne'er-halting processions,
In each bright mile of their courses,
Forces are struggling with forces,
Thus the safe balances keeping,
While through the universe sweeping.
Not from the stars we are learning
Lessons of peace for our souls:
Only by strifes in their turning,
Order can keep its controls.
On the rough edge of our nation,
Long did the foreigners dwell,
Waiting for heaven's ministration,
Or the redoubling of hell.
Whence came their peaceful desiring—
What their decision inspiring?—
Not from this world, or from near it,
Grows the beneficent spirit:
E'en as this war was arrested,
Earthquakes in fury protested!
Not from the world's savage teaching,
Peace has the power to arise;
You who for that are beseeching,
Look to the realms of the skies!
Long did the foreigners dwell,
Waiting for heaven's ministration,
Or the redoubling of hell.
Whence came their peaceful desiring—
What their decision inspiring?—
Not from this world, or from near it,
Grows the beneficent spirit:
E'en as this war was arrested,
Earthquakes in fury protested!
Not from the world's savage teaching,
Peace has the power to arise;
You who for that are beseeching,
Look to the realms of the skies!
See there the death of confusion;
See the true order of life;
Joy on no joy claims intrusion—
Peace is not purchased with strife.
Gold is not hoarded and treasured—
Boundary-lines are unmeasured;
Never in words—but suggestion—
Rises the swift-answered question—
Not “Who with man shall be greater?”
But “Who with man's blest Creator?”
Thence, where all love has beginning,
Thence, where all order finds birth,
Must, 'mid our strifes and our sinning,
Come all the peace of the earth.
See the true order of life;
Joy on no joy claims intrusion—
Peace is not purchased with strife.
Gold is not hoarded and treasured—
Boundary-lines are unmeasured;
Never in words—but suggestion—
Rises the swift-answered question—
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But “Who with man's blest Creator?”
Thence, where all love has beginning,
Thence, where all order finds birth,
Must, 'mid our strifes and our sinning,
Come all the peace of the earth.
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