ON THE RAMPART
Above her, in the glittering day,
The white-winged banner’s battle stars.
Crisping the bosom of the bay,
Bold Moultrie stands with all her scars;
Amid the island, in repose,
The casual breeze at last grew still;
And, through the haze of twilight, rose
The tower of Secessionville.
The patient moon clomb up the sky
Forever on the sun god’s trail—
The saddest, loveliest thing on high,
And like Oenone’s passion pale.
The signal fires wink through the dark
Aleft and right, as rays may reach
Around the red and feverish arc
Of muffled batteries on the beach.
A hallowed radiance, calm and grave,
Gilded the city’s storied spires,
Where watch the beautiful and brave,
Where sleep the Carolinian sires.
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