THE bravest battle that ever was fought; Shall I tell you where and when? On the maps of the world you will find it not; It was fought by the mothers of men. Nay, not with cannon or battle shot, With sword or nobler pen; Nay not with eloquent word or thought, From mouths of wonderful men, But deep in a walled-up woman's heart-- Of woman that would not yield, But patiently, silently bore her part-- Lo! there in that battlefield. No marshaling troop, no bivouac song; No banner to gleam and wave; And oh! these battles they last so long-- From babyhood to the grave! Yet, faithful still as a bridge of stars, She fights in her walled-up town-- Fights on and on in the endless wars, Then, silent, unseen--goes down. |