[Vision2020] The Battle Autumn of 1862

[Tom Hansen]

The Battle Autumn of 1862
by John Greenleaf Whittier
The flags of war like storm-birds fly, 
The charging trumpets blow; 
Yet rolls no thunder in the sky, 
No earthquake strives below. 

And, calm and patient, Nature keeps 
Her ancient promise well, 
Though o’er her bloom and greenness sweeps 
The battle’s breath of hell. 

And still she walks in golden hours 
Through harvest-happy farms, 
And still she wears her fruits and flowers 
Like jewels on her arms. 

What mean the gladness of the plain, 
This joy of eve and morn, 
The mirth that shakes the beard of grain 
And yellow locks of corn? 

Ah! eyes may well be full of tears, 
And hearts with hate are hot; 
But even-paced come round the years, 
And Nature changes not. 

She meets with smiles our bitter grief, 
With songs our groans of pain; 
She mocks with tint of flower and leaf 
The war-field’s crimson stain. 

Still, in the cannon’s pause, we hear 
Her sweet thanksgiving-psalm; 
Too near to God for doubt or fear, 
She shares the eternal calm. 

She knows the seed lies safe below 
The fires that blast and burn; 
For all the tears of blood we sow 
She waits the rich return. 

She sees with clearer eye than ours 
The good of suffering born,— 
The hearts that blossom like her flowers, 
And ripen like her corn. 

Oh, give to us, in times like these, 
The vision of her eyes; 
And make her fields and fruited trees 
Our golden prophecies! 

Oh, give to us her finer ear! 
Above this stormy din, 
We too would hear the bells of cheer 
Ring peace and freedom in.

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Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)
http://www.MoscowCares.net

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

“A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met.”
- Roy E. Stolworthy
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