[From _The Southern Poems of the War_, edited by Emily V. Mason
(Baltimore, 1867)]
Dreams of a stately land,
Where roses and lotus open to the sun,
Where green ravine and misty mountains stand,
By lordly valor won.
Dreams of the earnest-browed
And eagle-eyed, who late with banners bright,
Rode forth in knightly errantry, to do
Devoir for God and right.
Shoulder to shoulder, see
The crowning columns file through pass and glen!
Hear the shrill bugle! List the rolling drum,
Mustering the gallant men!
Resolute, year by year,
They keep at bay the cohorts of the world;
Hemmed in, yet trusting in the Lord of Hosts,
The cross is still unfurled.
Patient, heroic, true,
And counting tens where hundreds stood at first;
Dauntless for truth, they dare the sabre's edge,
The bombshell's deadly burst.
While we, with hearts made brave
By their proud manhood, work, and watch, and pray,
Till, conquering fate, we greet with smiles and tears
The conquering ranks of grey!
Oh, God of dreams and sleep,
Dreamless they sleep--'tis we, the sleepless, dream,
Defend us while our vigil dark we keep,
Which knows no morning beam!
Bloom, gentle spring-tide flowers--
Sing, gentle winds, above each holy grave,
While we, the women of a desolate land,
Weep for the true and brave.
Memphis, Tennessee.