Before Dawn (Ce) Poem by George Sterling

'Tell us, O Watchman, tell us of the Night!
What tidings from the world's high parapet?'
'There is no pausing nor cessation yet
Where the lords gather and the legions fight.
Mars in his House of Blood hath sovran light
Above the ashes of a Day long set,
And with his scarlet dew the land is wet,
And the red stars gaze with despotic sight.'

So rang the message that they bent to hark,
As from his height the western Sentinel
Beheld the Signs malignant hit their place,
And heard beyond the horizon of the dark
The solemn sound of cannon., as tho Hell
Tolled forth the doom and burial of the race.