WOMAN.
1862.
AS though no shade of human wrong fell darkly on their beauty,
And all men walked in brotherhood the shining ways of duty,
The blessed summer days glide by in calm and sweet succession;
God writes on Nature's palace-walls no curse against oppression.
And all men walked in brotherhood the shining ways of duty,
The blessed summer days glide by in calm and sweet succession;
God writes on Nature's palace-walls no curse against oppression.
The strong man arms him for the fight; he hears the bugle calling;
And while between the patriot-shouts her tears have time for falling,
Pale woman plies the threaded steel nor shapes her lips to singing,
But still with every stitch she draws the pearls of prayer is stringing.
And while between the patriot-shouts her tears have time for falling,
Pale woman plies the threaded steel nor shapes her lips to singing,
But still with every stitch she draws the pearls of prayer is stringing.
She thinks of those whose wounds are fresh; of those in death-sleep lying,
Whose brows of youth and manhood won their brightest crowns in dying;
Whose brows of youth and manhood won their brightest crowns in dying;
268
