PRELUDE
I
If earth's lost youth thou hast revived in dreams,
Hast set swift sails and moored in ports of yore,
...
June 27, 1862.
INSCRIBED TO THE GALLANT PENNSYLVANIA RESERVES.
The battle's last, long thunders rolled;
The witness-cloud to heaven was swept;
...
I
We two waited on the deck-
All around us rolled the sea;
Helpless, on our reeling wreck,
...
At last the dread cloud that hung over the gorges
Has sailed to the west and extinguished the sun;
At last, mid the mountains, war's thunderbolt-forges
...
Awake, little daughter, awake!
The sad moon is weaving her shroud;
The pale, drooping lily-bells quake;
The river is sobbing aloud.
...