War Lyrics dedicated to the friends of the dead. By A. and L. Shore. Second edition, with additions |
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THE MAIDEN AT HOME. |
 | War Lyrics |  |
THE MAIDEN AT HOME.
Fast, fast I pace the long, green walk,
I wander wide and far;
The woods are full of phantom talk,
And all their speech is war.
I wander wide and far;
The woods are full of phantom talk,
And all their speech is war.
Will quiet never come again?
Must night, that softly came
In fragrant dusk erewhile, now reign
A dream of blood and flame—
Must night, that softly came
In fragrant dusk erewhile, now reign
A dream of blood and flame—
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Where armed men who kill and die,
Swords dashing blow on blow,
Outcries of death or victory,
Are clashing to and fro?
Swords dashing blow on blow,
Outcries of death or victory,
Are clashing to and fro?
As though some Voice from high had blown
This fair, still world away,
By fortress-walls or hills unknown,
Like a lost ghost I stray.
This fair, still world away,
By fortress-walls or hills unknown,
Like a lost ghost I stray.
And for the sigh from tree to tree
That dreaming summer bore,
The Euxine plashes heavily
Upon a rocky shore.
That dreaming summer bore,
The Euxine plashes heavily
Upon a rocky shore.
He who last summer pressed my hand
With such a long farewell,
Now fights in yonder murderous land—
Last night perhaps he fell.
With such a long farewell,
Now fights in yonder murderous land—
Last night perhaps he fell.
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He smiled adieu—but that pale smile
Made sterner still his face;
Words passed, but on our lips the while
Love dared not find a place.
Made sterner still his face;
Words passed, but on our lips the while
Love dared not find a place.
How could I so my heart have tasked?
Oh, should not such an hour
Have under lifeless looks unmasked
A spirit of love and power?
Oh, should not such an hour
Have under lifeless looks unmasked
A spirit of love and power?
I felt he loved me, and I knew
He went perhaps to die—
Yet dared I not to truth be true,
Nor breathe an honest sigh.
He went perhaps to die—
Yet dared I not to truth be true,
Nor breathe an honest sigh.
Now daily with heroic scorn
He gazes in Death's face,
Hears nought but thunders cannon-born,
Round that war-girdled place;
He gazes in Death's face,
Hears nought but thunders cannon-born,
Round that war-girdled place;
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Or, singly flung amongst his foes,
Now bears the banner high,
Round which the struggling thousands close,
Nor yields it but to die;
Now bears the banner high,
Round which the struggling thousands close,
Nor yields it but to die;
Braves in the trench the burning breath
Of the ball that seeks him out,
Or charms his band to rush on death,
With his clear rallying shout.
Of the ball that seeks him out,
Or charms his band to rush on death,
With his clear rallying shout.
Oh! fancy pictures not amiss
That shapes a hero so;
These records tell how brave he is,
How gentle, well I know.
That shapes a hero so;
These records tell how brave he is,
How gentle, well I know.
I know that sinking comrades feel
His cheer like life's warm ray;
I know that foemen bless his steel
That spares where spare it may.
His cheer like life's warm ray;
I know that foemen bless his steel
That spares where spare it may.
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In stories of heroic deeds
His name is never missed;
I kiss the word my dim eye reads
In the immortal list.
His name is never missed;
I kiss the word my dim eye reads
In the immortal list.
When trumpets stir his heart's brave blood
To a fierce dance of glee,
As one who guards him for his good
Does he e'er dream of me?
To a fierce dance of glee,
As one who guards him for his good
Does he e'er dream of me?
Laid in cold sleep 'mid nightwinds wintry,
Looks in no tender face
To turn that tent where Death stands sentry,
Into a blessed place?
Looks in no tender face
To turn that tent where Death stands sentry,
Into a blessed place?
Oh! these dull limits to enlarge,
This blank with life to fill!
Oh! to have been in that grand charge
Up Alma's deadly hill!
This blank with life to fill!
Oh! to have been in that grand charge
Up Alma's deadly hill!
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See, step by step, how firm and slow
Those peerless men march on!
Through showers of death unmoved they go,
And the dreadful heights are won!
Those peerless men march on!
Through showers of death unmoved they go,
And the dreadful heights are won!
Love whirls me with an eager pain
Into the battle blast—
Oh! for an angel's wing to gain
And hold my hero fast!
Into the battle blast—
Oh! for an angel's wing to gain
And hold my hero fast!
Still must dumb frozen distance prove
The blank 'twixt him and me?
I will be with thee, oh! my love,
Whate'er thy fate may be.
The blank 'twixt him and me?
I will be with thee, oh! my love,
Whate'er thy fate may be.
Wilt thou return with a hero's name,
Or wear it in the grave?
Or lie, our grateful care to claim,
With thy country's bleeding brave?
Or wear it in the grave?
Or lie, our grateful care to claim,
With thy country's bleeding brave?
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Oh, trebly by those wounds endeared!—
To feel, all flowing o'er,
A mother's heart towards one half feared
For manhood's pride before;
To feel, all flowing o'er,
A mother's heart towards one half feared
For manhood's pride before;
While each soft word swells from the heart,
Each look is softer still—
Be this but mine! my future part
Is happy, come what will;
Each look is softer still—
Be this but mine! my future part
Is happy, come what will;
Calmed by the farewell of a soul
So royal still in death,
Or making life a blessed whole
Clasped in his love and faith!
So royal still in death,
Or making life a blessed whole
Clasped in his love and faith!
A. December 31, 1854.
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