O! ONCE was felt the storm of war! It had an earthquake's roar; It flashed upon the mountain height, And smoked along the shore. It thundered in a dreaming ear, And up the Farmer sprang; It muttered in a bold, true heart, And a warrior's harness rang. It rumbled by a widow's door,-- All but her hope did fail: It trembled through a leafy grove, And a maiden's cheek was pale. It steps upon the sleeping sea, And waves around it howl; It strides from top to foaming top, Out-frowning ocean's scowl. And yonder sailed the merchant ship-- There was peace upon her deck; -- Her friendly flag from the mast was torn, And the waters whelmed the wreck. But the same blast that bore her down Filled a gallant daring sail, That loved the might of the blackening storm, And laughed in the roaring gale. The stream, that was a torrent once, Is rippled to a brook, The sword is broken, and the spear Is but a pruning hook. The mother chides her truant boy, And keeps him well from harm; While in the grove the happy maid Hangs on her lover's arm. Another breeze is on the sea, Another wave is there, And floats abroad triumphantly, A banner bright and fair; And peaceful hands and happy hearts, And gallant spirits keep Each star that decks it pure and bright, Above the rolling deep. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THOSE EVENING BELLS by THOMAS MOORE SONNET: 29 by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE THE LAY OF SAINT MEDARD; A LEGEND OF AFRIC by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM POEM, READ THE SOLDIERS' WELCOME, FRANKLIN, NEW YORK, AUG. 5, 1865 by B. H. BARNES THREE PASTORAL ELEGIES: 2 by WILLIAM BASSE THREE SONGS OF LOVE (CHINESE FASHION): 3. LOVE CALL by WILLIAM A. BEATTY |