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16
ATTAINMENT
Let me go back again。 There is the road；
O memory！ The humble garden lane
So young with me。 Let me rebuild again
The start of faith and hope by that abode；
Amend with morning freshness all the code
Of youth's desire； remap my chart's demesne
With tuneful joy； and plan a far campaign
For better marches in ambition's mode。
Ah； no； my heart！ More certain now the skies
For joy abide： the cage of tree and sod；
Horizons firm that faith and hope attain；
Far realms of innocence in children's eyes；
And hearts harmonious with the will of God：
These might I miss if I were back again。
17
THE PHILOSOPHERS
The best of true philosophers
Are the children； after all；
The children with laughing hearts
And the serious field and ball：
They have a bowl and bubbles；
And hours where rainbows are；
They find； if ever the sun is hid；
In every dark a star。
But； O； the sorry men that make
The wise books of our day！
They cannot smile athwart a cloud；
When black thoughts lead astray；
They cannot add a simple sum；
But talk like drunken men；
And shut their eyes to keep out God
When spring comes in again。
Far simpler than the Rule of Three
Are the laws of earth and sky；
Yet fools will muddle all true thought；
And pride will have its cry；
The banners with their deadly words
Go reeling on unfurled；
And sin and sadness march along
To the heartbreak of the world。
18
The Philosophers
But the children are the wise men；
With the clearest heart and mind；
If two and one are three； they say；
Then truth is near to find；
If this be now that once was not；
If things must have a cause；
Then very simple is the sum
That God is in His laws。
The world's men that are fools enough；
They will not speak that way；
But with a cloud of muddled thought
They hide the light of day；
Yet laughing words and candid truth
Abide by field and hall；
Where the best of true philosophers
Are the children； after all。
19
PREPAREDNESS
~~~~~~~~~~
I。
THE DRUMMER BOY
You never know when war may come；
And that is why I keep a drum：
For if all sudden in the night
From east or west came battle fright；
And you were sound asleep in bed；
And very soon to join the dead；
You then would gladly wish my drum
Would warn you that the war had come。
So that is why on afternoons
I tell the neighborhood my tunes：
Sometimes behind a fortress bench；
Or where the hedges make a trench；
I beat the drum with all my might；
While people look with awful fright；
Just as they would if war had come；
And heard the warning of my drum。
They must be thankful； I am sure；
Because they now may feel secure；
And rest so safe and sound in bed；
Without wild dreams of fearful dread；
For now they hear me all the day；
As round the yard I march and play；
To let them know if war should come
They'll get the warning of my drum。
~~~~~~~~~~
20
Preparedness
II。
THE SAILOR
A sailor that rides the ocean wave；
And I in my room at home：
Where are the seas I fear to brave；
Or the lands I may not roam？
At the attic window I take my stand；
And tighten the curtain sail；
Then； ahoy！ I ride the leagues of land；
Whether in calm or gale。
Tree at anchor along the road
Bow as I speed along；
At sunny brooks in the valley I load
Cargoes of blossom and song；
Stories I take on the passing wind
From the plains and forest seas；
And the Golden Fleece I yet will find；
And the fruit of Hesperides。
Steady I keep my watchful eyes；
As I range the thousand miles；
Till evening tides in western skies
Turn gold the cloudland isles；
Then fast is the hatch and dark the screen；
And I bring my cabin light；
With a wink I change to a submarine
And drop in the sea of Night。
21
WAR IN THE NORTH
Not from Mars and not from Thor
Comes the war； the welcome war；
Many months we waited for
To free us from the bondage
Of Winter's gloomy reign：
Valor to our hope is bound；
Songs of courage loud resound；
Vowed is Spring to win her ground
Through all our northern country；
》From Oregon to Maine。
All our loyal brave allies
In the Southlands mobilize；
Faith is sworn to our emprise；
The scouting breezes whisper
That help is sure today：
Vanguards of the springtime rains
Cannonade the hills and plains；
Freeing them from Winter's chains；
So birds and buds may flourish
Around the throne of May。
Hark！ and hear the clarion call
Bluebirds give by fence and wall！
Look！ The darts of sunlight fall；
And red shields of the robins
Ride boldly down the leas；
Hail！ The cherry banners shine；
Onward comes the battle line；
On！ White dogwood waves the sign；
And exile troops of blossoms
Are sailing meadow seas。
22
War in the North
Winter's tyrant king retires；
Spring leads on her legion choirs
Where the hedges sound their lyres；
The victor hills and valleys
Ring merrily the tune：
April cohorts guard the way
For the great enthroning day；
When the Princess of May
Shall wed within our northlands
The charming Prince of June。
23
THE HAPPY TIME
Two gloomy scenes may be；
Or count you three：
A building hope all crushed at morn；
A bridal day in clouds of rain；
And night that keeps a mother's pain
For tidings of a child forlorn。
Of happy times count more；
Admit these four：
A flower of promise rich with day；
A son with victories that wear
A halo on his mother's way：
And friends whose hearts ring like a chime
Across the world at Christmas time。
24
THE TIME OF TRUCE
Two young lads from childhood up
Drank together friendship's cup：
Joe was glad with Bill at play；
Bill was home to Joe alway。
On their friendship came the blight
Of a little thoughtless fight；
Then； alas！ each passing day
Farther bore these friends away。
There was grief in either heart；
Bleeding deep from sorrow's dart；
When in thoughtfulness again
Each beheld the other's pain。
But the shades of night are furled
When the morning takes the world；
And the Christmas days of peace
Make our little quarrels cease。
Bill and Joe on Christmas Day
Met as in the olden way；
Bill put out his hand to Joe；
It was Christmas Day； you know。
Bill and Joe are friends again；
And to them long years remain；
Time may take them far away；
They keep Christmas every day。
25
BETHLEHEM
O ye who sail Potomac's even tide
To Vernon's shades； our Chieftain's hallowed mound；
Or who at distant shrines high paeans sound
In Alfred's cult； old England's morning pride；
Or seek Versailles； conceited as a bride；
With garish memories of kins strewn round；
Or lay your spirit's cheek on Forum gr