English poem
Among The Flags
by Louise Imogen Guiney (1861–1920)
IN DORIC HALL, MASSACHUSETTS STATE HOUSE.
DEAR witnesses, all luminous, eloquent, Stacked thickly on the tesselated floor! The soldier-blood stirs in me, as of yore In sire and grandsire who to battle went: I seem to know the shaded valley tent, The armed and bearded men, the thrill of war, Horses that prance to hear the cannon roar, Shrill bugle-calls, and camp-fire merriment. And as fair symbols of heroic things, Not void of tears mine eyes must e’en behold These banners lovelier as the deeper marred: A panegyric never writ for kings On every tarnished staff and tattered fold; And by them, tranquil spirits standing guard.
CHILD AND FLOWER.
[From the French of Chateaubriand.][B]
ALONG her coffin-lid the spotless roses rest A father’s sad, sad hand culled from a happy bower; Earth, they were born of thee: take back upon thy breast Young child and tender flower.
To this unhallowed world, ah! let them not return, To this dark world where grief and sin and anguish lower; The winds might wound and break, the sun might parch and burn Young child and tender flower.
Thou sleepest, O Elise! thy years were brief and bright; The burden and the heat are spared thy noonday hour; For dewy morn has flown, and on its pinions light, Young child and tender flower.
FOOTNOTE:
[B] The author’s title runs: “Sur la Fille de mon Ami, enterrée devant moi hier au Cimetière de Passy: 16 Juin, 1832.”
KNIGHT FALSTAFF.
I SAW the dusty curtain, ages old, Its purple tatters twitched aside, and lo! The fourth King Harry’s reign in lusty show Behind, its deeds in living file outrolled Of peace and war; some sage, some mad, and bold: Last, near a tree, a bridled neighing row With latest spoils encumbered, saints do know, By Hal and Hal’s boon cronies; on the wold Laughter of prince and commons; there and here Travellers fleeing; drunken thieves that sang; Wild bells; a tavern’s echoing jolly shout; Signals along the highway, full of cheer; A gate that closed with not incautious clang, When that sweet rogue, bad Jack! came lumbering out.