Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-07-11
A FINE POEM.

We republtsh this poem from the APPEAL OF
the year 1868. When It was published, the suthor
being then wholly unknown to Us, We thought
il the nnest poem that had been written In
connection with the great struggle of the South
for independence. We think so yet, and theze-
fore publish 1t again;
A PRAYER.
Lord God OF Hostsi we lift our llesrt to Thee
Our streaming eyes hft vainly toward Thy
Earthis mists and shadows are so mighty
The CLEAN Of seraph wings we no more see.
Lord GOD of Hosts! we lin our heart to Thee
Our handsars feJtered down by CALLING chains;
No more the scsptre in our grasp remains
Beneath the yoke we pass, with Liberty.
Lord God Of Hostsi we lit our heart to Thee
Our hrows are bowed beneath Thy crown OF
'ris heavy with the blood of those we mourn !;
1t darkles with the Life-biood of the free.
I.ord God OF Hostsl we IN our heart to Thee
A ceaSeless moan walls on in breeze OF morn,
Through all the busy din Of day upborne,
And when the gioaming broodeth Ger the sea,
o God Of Host! turn Thou and hear that moan,
No southern lips are stranger 70 its sound,
And, shuddering, in the merry frolic's round,
Our prattling children catch its monotone.
Strong men weep now who never wept before
Black, stoled women yearning at thy fate
Prayer-HOrn lips culver, faded eyes orim Ger.
Thy fate-it is the only open door
Where stAndeth Azrael, reckoning one BY
By witch we leave. our pilgrim goal being
This dreST Gods Acre. crlmsOn-drenched in
gore.
Each Iowly grave our mountains proudly
Death scared the land throughout with fiery
O, Thou who gavest tears to Lazarus dead.
Behold cur Mother-conntry Heth stark.
1t is too late for us to raise or save
We grappled with the bloodhound at her
We saw his savage glare above her gloat-
Teach us to kneel, y God, beside her grave.
Teach rs to kueeI-to Thee alone, o God.
The tyrant foin would spurn as at his feet
TEE gore upon our Mothers wiuding-sheet
Would brand as murdeTers, trickIiRg through
the sod.
Teach us to kneel-teaeh rs to pray, God
Not for reveEge-for vengeance Is Thine own,
But that Thou hear our ceaseless praysrful
And that Thou see we bow beneath Thy rod.
Lord God ef Hosts! teach us to lift our hearts
Letthem not lower meath our letters weight:
Let not our War-worn heroes stoop TO fate,
Nor barter Honor in the toe's full marts.
The laurels in Gods Acre shelter Thou
Let still the peoples patriotic tears
Wash rom their shining erests the dust Of
years,
And d:ws from Heaven purify each bough.
o garner Thou the fiOwerets that rest
Beneath the sod until Thou bid them rise
Receive them meet and stainless sacrifice,
And take them, gracious Father, 70 thy breast.
Break Thou, Lsrd God, our Captives lengthen-
ing chain
wherewith the foe hath him and Freedom
bodnd-
From deepto deep It's clanEing dsth reso1nd
Our hearts beat heavy to It's sad refrain.
Hear Thou his prayer, to whom alone he prays.
In hviog mercy guard his widowed WIFE
With honor hedge his orphaned children's
UntarnisAed keep Thou aye his hard-Won bays.
Lord God to Thee with him our heart we give
Q Thou who heardsst Mary's stricken moan,
Roll from our Mothers grave the sealed stone
say to the Dead within-Come forth, and I've
FADETTE.