The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-01-17
POETRY.
A Vision of the War.

1 am signing, ever signing
For the brave and noble slain,
In their crimsoned graves now lying,
Never to return again.
Yes, from strife and heat of battle
They are gone-their work is done;
Peal of trump and lannon's rattle
Wake them not; death {. yictory's won!
am gazing, strangely gazing
Out into the midnight air,
And, my fearful eyes upraising,
See a vast procession there.
All are decked in spotless raiments;
Ali have bright and shining wings;
All are crowned with wreaths of laurel:
These are no imaginings.
am weeping, wildly weeping
For those dreadful battles late;
From earth's crimsoned fields retreating
They have passed the pearly gate.
In mercy, help freeze and shiver;
They will haunt us evermore-
Cries from Rappahannock river,*
Echoing from shore to shore.
There is mourning, daughters mourning,
Yes, from morn till even-tide,
For true and noble mother,
Who hath for her country died.
As look into the midnight,
With my watchful, weary eyes,
She is gliding through the starlight,
Like an angel from the skies
There are husbands, sons, and brothers
In this floating phantom train;
Some are fathers, some are lovers,
Mortal nevermore again,
Lovers decked in wedding garments.
Wait to welcome at their side,
In that home where love grows fonder,
Each his own loved spirit bride.
Mine see, in shining raiment
Gilttering through the midnight pail;
By his side, my idol daughter:
They're the fairest of them all.
She is gathering Heavenly flowers,
That bloom around their angel feet,
Brightest from those fadeless bowers,
As they tread the golden street.
Yes, she is my guardian angel;
Plainly | can see her there,
Plainly hear her sweet voice floating
Softly through the midnight air!
Mother dear, dwell in gladness,
In bright and blessed home;
Dry thy tears, and Danish sadness,
Till a rest for thee be won!
One, who through the fields of science
Led me in youths sunny day;
One, who told me from the pulpit
Of the straight and narrow way
Yes, they fitted us when youthful,
For the temple that's above
Hear them, in this vast procession
Chanting their sweet songs of love!
One lov'd youth in this procession,
With fair brow and eyes of blue,
Clad iii raiment of progression,
Passes now before my viewl
Yes, the good, the brave, the cherished
Though amidst the battles roar
Far away he bravely persisted,
Now he sleeps on Casco's shore.
Honored father, broken hearted,
Mourn not for thy noble son;
Only in this world you're parted;
He the victory hathwon.
Now his upward way is glorious,
In this train an angel fair;
Mother, sister, all victorious
Are a happy trio there.
He who formed the dead Pearl DIVER
Sculptured from the marble fair
Though he crossed the phantom river,
can see his genius therel
Yes, the artist and the poet
With the honored, brave, and true,
They have Joined these silent angels,
And the Heavenly way pursue!
Numberless, these fitting shadows
Der our path their vigils keep,
Are forever watching DER us,
In our waking hours and sleep:
Manhood, infancy, the aged,
With their flowing, silyery hair,
But among them all cannot
See single traitor there.
Another milestone in life's pathway
Greets us with the morrow's dawn;
May the sculptured finger point us
Peaceful paths to walk upon.
But the future is all shrouded;
Its events we cannot know
If its days be bright or clouded,
Fraught with happiness or woe.
Soon will come the day appointed;
Afric's children will be free,
All the scorned, oppressed, and taunted-
Hail. sweet year of liberty.
God will give them life's pure waters,
When they join this white-robed train;
No more bondage-sweet deliyerance-
Freedom, all in Heaven proclaim.
From my brain the pictures vanish;
To my room I'll go alone,
And in dreams forget my anguish,
Should bright days come back, now flowi
And this train of silent angels
viii have crossed the jasper sea,
Safe, a. rest in Gods own bosom,