The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-01
Tl,e Norfulk 2nst.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1865.
MR. HOLMES POEM AT HARVARD.


Four summers coined their golden light in leaves,
-Four wasteful autunns flung them to the gale,
Four winters the shroud the tempest weayes e
The fourth wan Apri! wept Ger hill and vale.
And still the war-clouds scowled on sea and land,
With the red CLEANS of battle staining through,
When, lol as parted by an angels hand,
They open, and the heavens again are bluei
Which is the dream, The present or the pasti
The night of anguish or thejoyous norm
The long, long Years with horrors overcast,
Or the sweet promise Of the day NEWBORN
Tell us, 0 father, MS thine arms enlold
Thy beted trst-born in their fast embrace,
Murmurng the prayer the patriarch breathed of old
Nov, lot me die, for have thy facet"
Tell us, 0 mother-nay thou can'st not speak,
But my fond eyes shall answer brimmed with Joy
Press thy mute lips against the suu-browned cheek
Is this phantom t-tly returning boy!
Tell u.s. 0 maiden-Ah, what can st thou tell ~.
That Natures record Is not first to teach
The open volume all can read SO WE'LL
WIN It's twin crimson pages fNN OF spceohf
And ye who mourn your dead-how sternly true
The cruel hour that wrenched their lives away,
shadowed with sorlow's midnight veil for you,
For them the dawnng OF immortal day
Dreanl-like these years of coNaict--not dream!
Death, ruin ashes tell their awful tale,
Read by the flaming war-tracks uId CLEAN;
No dream, but truth that turns the nations pale
For on the pillar raised by martyr hands
Burns the REX indled beacon OF the right
Sowing its seeds of fire DER all the land
Thrones look century older in its light
Rome had her triumphs; round the conquerors car
The ensigns waved, the brazen clarions blew,
And DER the reeking spoils of bandit war
With outspread wings the cruel eagles Jew
Arms treasures, captives kings in elankng chains,
Urged on by trampling cohorts bronzed and Scared
And wiId-eyed wonders shared OIL Lybrian plains
Lion and ostrich and camelopard
Vain all that prators clutched that consuls brought
When Rome's returning legions crowned their lord
Less than the least brave deed these hands have wrought
We clasp, unclenching from the bloody sword!
Theirs was the mighty work that seers forefoid
They knew not half their glorious toll was won,
For this Is Heavens same Battle-Ground of old,
When Athens fought for MS at Marathonl
Behold a vision none hath understood
Tho breaking OF the Apocalyptc seal
Twice rings the summons-Iaii and fire, and blood;
Then tho third angel blows his trumpet. peal.
Loud wall the jewellers on tho myrtled coasts,
| The green savonnas swell the maddened cry,
| And, with yell from all tho demon hosts,
Falls the great star called NORWOOD from the sky
| Bitter it mingled with the poisoned flow
OF tho warm rivers winding to the shore;
Thousands must drink the waves of death and Woe
But the star Norwood stains the heavens more
Peace smiles at last; the nation calls her sons
To sheathe the sword; her battc-lag she furls,
Speaks in glad thundsrs from unsolicited guns
And hides her rubies under milk-white pearls.
o yc that fought for freedom, living, dead,
Ono sacred host Of Gods anointed queen,
For every holy crop your veins have shed,
Wobreathe welcome to our bowers Of green
| Welcome, ye living! from foemans grippe,
|
All, many a forehead shows the bannerstripe
| Aud stars, once crimson hallow many breast.
| And ye, pale heroes, who from glory's bed,
| Mark when your old battalions form in line,
| Mo,ein their marching ranks with noiseless tread,
And shape, unheard, the evening countersign.
| Comgwth your comrades, the returning brave,
Shoulder to shoulder they await you here;
| These lent the life their martyr-brohers gave
Living and dead alike forever dear