Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE CROSSED SWORDS, by NATHANIEL LANGDON FROTHINGHAM


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE CROSSED SWORDS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Swords crossed - but not in strife!
Last Line: Hail this meek cross at last.


SWORDS crossed, -- but not in strife!
The chiefs who drew them, parted by the space
Of two proud countries' quarrel, face to face
Ne'er stood for death or life.

Swords crossed that never met
While nerve was in the hands that wielded them;
Hands better destined a fair family stem
On these free shores to set.

Kept crossed by gentlest bands!
Emblems no more of battle, but of peace;
And proof how loves can grow and wars can cease,
Their once stern symbol stands.

It smiled first on the array
Of marshalled books and friendliest companies;
And here a history among histories,
It still shall smile for aye.

See that thou memory keep
Of him the firm commander; and that other,
The stainless judge; and him our peerless brother, --
All fallen now asleep.

Yet more: a lesson teach,
To cheer the patriot-soldier in his course,
That Right shall triumph still o'er insolent
Force:
That be your silent speech.

Oh, be prophetic too!
And may those nations twain, as sign and seal
Of endless amity, hang up their steel
As we these weapons do!

The archives of the Past,
So smeared with blots of hate and bloody wrong,
Pining for peace, and sick to wait so long,
Hail this meek cross at last.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net