Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-06-05
POETRY.
THE LOVES OF THE NATIONS
pEcoRATIoN-DAY POM BY WILL cARLE-
TON.

When ne who could be dangerous In the
fight
Had proved his souls magnifieenee and
might.
But-his poor body vanquished-with u
sigh
Had laid him down upou the sands to die,
He vsulted 'mongs, the Nations honored
sons;
He was the love of all the living ones.
They rallied round chief when fallen
low,
To guard his numb flesh from one hostile
blow.
sRescue the d-adr' WAS then the clarion
cry;
sRescu. the dead. for We ourselves must
die!"
so oft they made, before the strife was
done,
A dozen corpses mnre, to rescue one.
When that great agony of muscle, brain,
Heart. soul. tumultuous JOY, and frantic
pain,
Men call battle, had been lost and won,
And it was told which side the gods
eere on,
And DER the brows of which exhausted
band
Proud Victory should press her jewelled
hand.
Then FROM the conquered to the conquer
ing came
4 voice that made its WAY like tongues
of flame,
And swift and chivalrous compliance
bred;
Give us truce. that We may bury our
dead.'
Six Grscisn generals came from war Cne
day.
All we'll esteemed. for gallant men were
they;
But some one, pointing grimly at them,
said,
.'rkef on the f1sld unburisd left their
dead
Then popular rage rose In fiery flood,
And curied about them. and licked up
their blood.
Way aid each one fall with discovered
headl
Because the Grecians loved their soldier
dead,
A man came running from Thermopyle,
And said, "'Tis done; they all were slain
but me-"
Why did his fellow-Spartans sneer and
Kiss,
Rec0u from him, rs from leper's kiss,
Ard say, Take back your blood, you era
ven drone,
And leave it where your comrades lost
their own?"
1t was because the unhappy man had sped
Away from death, and left his comrades
dead
The Grecian mother, with d fearless eye.
Sent her SOD warward 18th this mandate
high:
Nov, be this shield your glory or your
hearse.
With it you earn my blessing or my curse.
Rather your ashes tlecked with sparks OF
flame,
Than your live body clad in robes OF
shamei"
On, yes, the Grecians loved their soldier
dead,
Whether b.neath the grass-blade's dainty
tread,
Or mid the funeral pyre's majestic blaze,
They glowed within the livings enrird
gael
Yet not like ours that Grecian love
rould be:
Tney did, rot love the living as do we!
The Romans loved their soldier dead,
And brightest, grandeet hohors DER them
spread.
That hard, grim nation which with fierce
iron hand
Clasped by the choking throat laud after
land,
And bioou of its own living freely SHED,
Grew strangely tender with its warrior
dead.
The past was dragged for deeds OF might
and fame,
To lang'in garlands on the golden name;
The magic silver of some gifted tongue
Ctap:ets of praise above his body flung;
And words fell on the living listening ear.
The dead might well awaken but to hear.
The flags that he had captured, draped in
gloom,
Before hIp waved-he found them at
his t,,tHb;
Sweet flowers, the freshest beauties of a
day,
Made fair gar den OF the hero's clay,
Great monuments wrote solemnly on high
His glory Ger the blue page Of the sky;
And epitaphs. beneath The sparkling
name,
Gave 70 the yoiceless dead tongue OF
flame.
Who fell with patriotic bravery, knew.
Humble or proud, his deeds would have
their due;
whoeer With bzseness threw his name
s~ay,
Kas1 that, when falln, he formed the |
vnltures prey.
Oh yes. the Romans loved their valiant
dead,
The While their living wereto victory led
Grsat, brainy Rome! you knew the in
tense desire
OF tnen to live when meaner men expire;
Knew how they struggle, cen with latest
breath,
To make their names o'erbridge the gulf
of death;
knew the last riges TO one dead hero
raid
Would sharpen many living warriors |
blade:
Knew how yodr victory accustomed bands |
Were waved along by their dead com
rzdes' hands,
Ye, not like ours that Roman love could
be:
They do not love the living as do we!
And does Columbia l,.ve her dead p !
NJ word nf praise or honor can lie sal
M language has bern given to our race.
Ma monm"nt has majesty or grace.
No muse. iilling with weird sweets the |
air.
No maid or matron el,9uently fair,
Nsught that can fee ling 10 expression
w.d.
Msy ssy -how well we love our soldier
deads
il In Tn. So days when self was all above.
Nea loved so well ere they we're taught !
10 love,
What deep affection may hp felt and Zen
Prom hearts taught 10y the leye-croWneJ
NxZarinei
III. Tiher raaua thrnuoh Caas.r'S |