Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-09-27
VERMONT POETS CALL TO SERVICE

FOEI"S SALh ~ AN~
A booklet of "war Poems by YER
mont's sweet singer, Judge Wendell r.
Stafford, would be appealing COR all loyal
sons and daughters of the Green Noun
tain State in any ordinary time. Coupled
with the announcement IF this publica-
lion, however, is the statement that the
booklet is to be sold for the benefit of
the Red Cross in this war. The whole
atmosphere about this cluster of jewels
is therefore patriotic and charged with
enthusiasm.
The greatest praise hat can be bestow-
ed on this group Of war poems is to say
they are what one would expect from the
gifted pen of Judge Stafford in a world
crisis like the present, involving our own
fair land. TIL broad catholicity Of the
uthor's sympathies stands out con-
spicuously as indicated by some of the
titles: MY Country America Resu:-
gent" America to Her Allies Amer
lean Battle Hymn Passing Mount
Vernon
The first poem in order. MY Country
was written in September. 1915. while a
host Of Americans were clamoring for
the punishment of those responsible for
the sinking the Lusitania.
my country! my country! my country!
They say thou art craven and weak;
Thou wilt leave the brave sword in thy
Scabbard.
And turn to the smiter thy cheek;
Thou wilt count the bright coin in thy
Golfer.
Thou wilt garner the gold of thy grain
hou wilt look on the death of thy chill
dren
Untouched by the wrong or the pain!
My country! my country! my country!
They lie that will say of thee so!
The stars that have led thee shall lead
The hours of His Judgment they know!
Thy feet will be swift on His pathway.
Though the rap Of His wrath should
be red;
With the might of thy quick and thy
dead!
In April following the action of Congress
in responding to President Wilson'S mes
sage by a declaration of a state Of war
existing. Judge Stafford's patriotic muse
was moved to X in part as follows I'M
der the title America Resurgent:'
"She is risen from the dead!
Loose the tongue and lift the head.
Let the sons of light rejoice!
She has heard the challenge clear;
She has answered, II am here;'
She has made the stainless choice.
49,
Cheer her! she is free at last.
With her back upon the past,
With her feet upon the bars.
Hosts of freedom sorely prest.
Lo. a light is in the west
And q helmet full Of stars"
sSs
Then followed naturally a message from
"America to Her Allies"
"Free lands beyond the water.
To you a song / send
A SONG to men from the lover Of men,
To friends the faith of a friend.
Hail. France. whose bloody travail
Has brought again to birth
The soul that made the Marsellaise
The trumpet of the earth
Hail the stout hearts of Flanders
Tha5 to their sand-dunes cling!
And hail to him. on his realms last rim.
Tho king who Is a king!
For the crowned an cruel liar
In the sun there is no room
And our hands are charged with thunder
And our feet are shod with DOOM"
We fear we have already rowde the
rights of review by giving SO much OF
the subject matter of Judge Stafford's
booklet to our readers. but what we have
published Is only a hint of the riches
contained In the entire list of poems in.
cluded in this little war volume. that
breathes such lofty and Inspiring patriot
SIN. Our readers can help a worthy