By the flow of the inland river, Whence the fleets of iron have fled, Where the blades of the grave-grass quiver Asleep are the ranks of the dead; -- Under the sod and the dew, Waiting the judgment-day; -- Under the one, the Blue; Under the other, the Gray. These in the robing of glory, Those in the gloom of defeat, All with the battle-blood gory, In the dusk of eternity meet; -- Under the sod and the dew, Waiting the judment-day; -- Under the laurel, the Blue; Under the willow, the Gray. From the silence of sorrowful hours The desolate mourners go, Lovingly laden with flowers Alike for the friend and the foe, -- Under the sod and the dew, Waiting the judgment-day; -- Under the roses, the Blue; Under the lilies, the Gray. So with an equal splendor The morning sun-rays fall, With a touch, impartially tender, On the blossoms blooming for all; -- Under the sod and the dew, Waiting the judgment-day; -- 'Broidered with gold, the Blue; Mellowed with gold, the Gray. So when the summer calleth, On forest and field of grain With an equal murmur falleth The cooling drip of the rain; -- Under the sod and the dew, Waiting the judgment-day; -- Wet with the rain, the Blue; Wet with the rain, the Gray. Sadly, but not with upbraiding, The generous deed was done; In the storm of the years that are fading, No braver battle was won; -- Under the sod and the dew, Waiting the judgment-day; -- Under the blossoms, the Blue; Under the garlands, the Gray. No more shall the war-cry sever, Or the winding rivers be red; They banish our anger forever When they laurel the graves of our dead! Under the sod and the dew, Waiting the judgment-day; -- Love and tears for the Blue, Tears and love for the Gray. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THANATOPSIS by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT THE NEW ARRIVAL by GEORGE WASHINGTON CABLE FRAGMENT THIRTY-SIX by HILDA DOOLITTLE THE TRAGEDY OF VALENTINIAN: SPRING by JOHN FLETCHER WHEN by SARAH CHAUNCEY WOOLSEY A SONG OF WORK by MARY (MAY) ELIZABETH (MCGRATH) BLAKE BALLAD TO THE TUNE - 'BUT THAT NE'ER TROUBLES ME, BOYS' by PATRICK CAREY |