America.

I.

Where the wings of a sunny Dome expand
I saw a Banner in gladsome air—­
Starry, like Berenice’s Hair—­
Afloat in broadened bravery there;
With undulating long-drawn flow,
As rolled Brazilian billows go
Voluminously o’er the Line. 
The Land reposed in peace below;
  The children in their glee
Were folded to the exulting heart
  Of young Maternity.

II.

Later, and it streamed in fight
  When tempest mingled with the fray,
And over the spear-point of the shaft
  I saw the ambiguous lightning play. 
Valor with Valor strove, and died: 
Fierce was Despair, and cruel was Pride;
And the lorn Mother speechless stood,
Pale at the fury of her brood.

III.

Yet later, and the silk did wind
    Her fair cold form;
Little availed the shining shroud,
  Though ruddy in hue, to cheer or warm. 
A watcher looked upon her low, and said—­
She sleeps, but sleeps, she is not dead. 
  But in that sleep contortion showed
The terror of the vision there—­
  A silent vision unavowed,
Revealing earth’s foundation bare,
  And Gorgon in her hidden place. 
It was a thing of fear to see
  So foul a dream upon so fair a face,
And the dreamer lying in that starry shroud.

IV.

But from the trance she sudden broke—­
  The trance, or death into promoted life;
At her feet a shivered yoke,
And in her aspect turned to heaven
  No trace of passion or of strife—­
A clear calm look.  It spake of pain,
But such as purifies from stain—­
Sharp pangs that never come again—­
  And triumph repressed by knowledge meet,
Power dedicate, and hope grown wise,
  And youth matured for age’s seat—­
Law on her brow and empire in her eyes. 
  So she, with graver air and lifted flag;
While the shadow, chased by light,
Fled along the far-drawn height,
  And left her on the crag.

Verses Inscriptive and Memorial

On the Home Guards
who perished in the Defense of Lexington, Missouri.

The men who here in harness died
  Fell not in vain, though in defeat. 
They by their end well fortified
  The Cause, and built retreat
(With memory of their valor tried)
For emulous hearts in many an after fray—­
Hearts sore beset, which died at bay.

Inscription
for Graves at Pea Ridge, Arkansas.

Let none misgive we died amiss
  When here we strove in furious fight: 
Furious it was; nathless was this
  Better than tranquil plight,
And tame surrender of the Cause
Hallowed by hearts and by the laws. 
  We here who warred for Man and Right,
The choice of warring never laid with us. 
  There we were ruled by the traitor’s choice. 
  Nor long we stood to trim and poise,
But marched, and fell—­victorious!