Lost Galleon (1867)/A Sanitary Message
A SANITARY MESSAGE.
Last night, above the whistling wind,
I heard the welcome rain;
A fusilade upon the roof,
A tattoo on the pane.
The key-hole piped; the chimney-top
A warlike trumpet blew,
Yet mingling with these sounds of strife
A softer voice stole through.
"Give thanks, O brothers," said the voice,
"That He who sent the rains
Hath spared your fields the scarlet dew
That drips from patriot veins.
I've seen the grass on Eastern graves
In brighter verdure rise;
But oh, the rain that gave it life
Sprang first from human eyes.
"I come to wash away no stain
Upon your wasted lea;
I raise no banners, save the ones
The forest wave to me.
Upon the mountain side, where Spring
Her farthest picket sets
My reveillé awakes a host
Of grassy bayonets.
"I visit every humble roof;
I mingle with the low;
Only upon the highest peaks
My blessings fall in snow,
Until in tricklings of the stream,
And drainings of the lea,
My unspent bounty comes at last
To mingle with the sea."
And thus, all night above the wind
I heard the welcome rain;
A fusilade upon the roof,
A tattoo on the pane.
The key-hole piped; the chimney-top
A warlike trumpet blew;
But mingling with these sounds of strife
This hymn of Peace stole through.