How I love them! how I could hug them, with their brown faces and their clothes and knapsacks cover'd with dust!) The blood of the city up-arm'd! arm'd! the cry everywhere, The flags flung out from the steeples of churches and from all the public buildings and stores, The tearful parting, the mother kisses her son, the son kisses his mother, (Loth is the mother to part, yet not a word does she speak to detain him), The tumultuous escort, the ranks of policemen preced ing, clearing the way, The unpent enthusiasm, the wild cheers of the crowd for their favorites, The artillery, the silent cannons bright as gold, drawn along, rumble lightly over the stones, (Silent cannons, soon to cease your silence, Soon unlimber'd to begin the red business); All the mutter of preparation, all the determin'd arming, The hospital service, the lint, bandages, and medicines, The women volunteering for nurses, the work begun for in earnest, no mere parade now; War! an arm'd race is advancing! the welcome for battle, no turning away; War! be it weeks, months, or years, an arm'd race is advancing to welcome it. Mannahatta a-march-and it's O to sing it well! And the sturdy artillery, well the guns, Unlimber them! (no more as the past forty years for salutes for courtesies merely), Put in something now besides powder and wadding. And you, lady of ships, you Mannahatta, ertly frown'd amid all your children, But now you smile with joy exulting, old Mannahatta. MEN OF THE NORTH BY JOHN NEAL Men of the North, look up! There's a tumult in your sky; Great shadows hurrying by. Your strength-where is it now? Your quivers are they spent? Your fathers' bows unbent? Men of the North, awake! Ye're called to from the deep; Yet there ye lie asleep. A stir in every tree; A shout from every wave; A challenging on every side; A moan from every grave: A battle in the sky; Ships thundering through the airJehovah on the march Men of the North, to prayer! Now, now—in all your strength; There's that before your way, Above, about you, and below, Like armies in array. Lift up your eyes, and see The changes overhead; The mustering of the dead. See how the midnight air With bright commotion burns, Thronging with giant shapes, Banner and spear by turns. The sea-fog driving in, Solemnly and swift, The moon afraid-stars dropping out The very skies adrift; The Everlasting God, Our Father-Lord of Love With cherubim and seraphim All gathering above; Their stormy plumage lighted up As forth to war they go; Upon our haughty foe! THE OATH OF FREEDOM BY JAMES BARRON HOPE Born free, thus we resolve to live: We will be free or die! Born free, thus we resolve to live: We will be free or die! Born free, thus we resolve to live: Our wives and children look on high, As freemen live or die! Born free, thus we resolve to live: We will be free or die! Born free, thus we resolve to live: We will be free or die! Born free, thus we resolve to live: We will be free or die! (Southern.) |