While wind in procession thoughts, O tender and won drous thoughts, Of life and death—of home and the past and loved, and A solemn and slow procession there as I sit on the ground, By the bivouac's fitful flame. I BIVOUAC ON A MOUNTAIN SIDE. SEE before me now a travelling army halting; Below, a fertile valley spread, with barns, and the orchards of summer; Behind, the terraced sides of a mountain, abrupt in places, rising high; Broken, with rocks, with clinging cedars, with tall shapes, dingily seen; The numerous camp-fires scattered near and far, some away up on the mountain; The shadowy forms of men and horses, looming, largesized, flickering; And over all, the sky—the sky! far, far out of reach, studded with the eternal stars. ITY of ships! CITY CITY OF SHIPS. (O the black ships! O the fierce ships! O the beautiful, sharp-bowed steam-ships and sail-ships!) All the lands of the earth make contributions here ;) City of wharves and stores! city of tall facades of marble and iron! Proud and passionate city! mettlesome, mad, extravagant city! Spring up, O city! not for peace alone, but be indeed yourself, warlike! Fear not! submit to no models but your own, O city ! Good or bad, I never question you—I love all—I do not condemn anything; I chant and celebrate all that is yours—yet peace no more; In peace I chanted peace, but now the drum of war is mine; War, red war, is my song through your streets, O city! VI VIGIL ON THE FIELD. IGIL strange I kept on the field one night, When you, my son and my comrade, dropped at my side that day. One look I but gave, which your dear eyes returned with a look I shall never forget; One touch of your hand to mine, O boy, reached up as you lay on the ground. Then onward I sped in the battle, the even-contested battle; Till, late in the night relieved, to the place at last again I made my way; Found you in death so cold, dear comrade—found your body, son of responding kisses, (never again on earth responding ;) Bared your face in the starlight—curious the scene—cool blew the moderate night-wind. Long there and then in vigil I stood, dimly around me the battle-field spreading; Vigil wondrous and vigil sweet, there in the fragrant silent night. But not a tear fell, not even a long-drawn sigh—Long, long I gazed; Then on the earth partially reclining, sat by your side, leaning my chin in my hands; Passing sweet hours, immortal and mystic hours, with you, dearest comrade—Not a tear, not a word; Vigil of silence, love, and death—vigil for you, my son and my soldier, As onward silently stars aloft, eastward new ones upward stole; Vigil final for you, brave boy, (I could not save you, swift was your death, I faithfully loved you and cared for you living—I think we shall surely meet again;) Til at latest lingering of the night, indeed just as the dawn appeared, My comrade I wrapped in his blanket, enveloped well his form, Folded the blanket well, tucking it carefully over head, and carefully under feet; And there and then, and bathed by the rising sun, my son in his grave, in his rude-dug grave, I deposited; Ending my vigil strange with that—vigil of night and battle-field dim; Vigil for boy of responding kisses, never again on earth responding; Vigil for comrade swiftly slain, vigil I never forget—how as day brightened I rose from the chill ground, and folded my soldier well in his blanket, And buried him where he fell. THE FLAG. ATHED in war's perfume—delicate flag! BA O to hear you call the sailors and the soldiers! flag like a beautiful woman! O to hear the tramp, tramp, of a million answering men! O the ships they arm with joy! O to see you leap and beckon from the tall masts of ships! O to see you peering down on the sailors on the decks! flag like the eyes of women. |