Ii.--The Day'S March

The battery grides and jingles, Mile succeeds to mile; Shaking the noonday sunshine, The guns lunge out awhile, And then are still awhile.

We amble along the highway; The reeking, powdery dust Ascends and cakes our faces With a striped, sweaty crust.

Under the still sky's violet The heat throbs on the air.... The white road's dusty radiance Assumes a dark glare.

With a head hot and heavy, And eyes that cannot rest, And a black heart burning In a stifled breast,

I sit in the saddle, I feel the road unroll, And keep my senses straightened Toward to-morrow's goal.

There, over unknown meadows Which we must reach at last, Day and night thunders A black and chilly blast.

Heads forget heaviness, Hearts forget spleen, For by that mighty winnowing Being is blown clean.

Light in the eyes again, Strength in the hand, A spirit dares, dies, forgives, And can understand!

And, best! Love comes back again After grief and shame, And along the wind of death Throws a clean flame.

* * * * *

The battery grides and jingles, Mile succeeds to mile; Suddenly battering the silence The guns burst out awhile.

* * * * *

I lift my head and smile.