HERE'S to the Cause, and the blood that feeds it! Here's to the Cause, and the soul that speeds it! Coward or Hero, or Bigot or Sage, All shall take part in the war that we wage; And though 'neath our banners range contrary manners, shall we pick, shall we choose 'twixt the false and the true? Not for us to deny them, let the Cause take and try them—the one man for us is the man who can do! Here's to the Cause, let who will get the Glory! Here's to the Cause, and a fig for the story! The braggarts may tell it who serve but for fame; There'll be more than enough that will die for the Name! And though in some eddy our vessels unsteady be stranded and wrecked ere the victory's won, Let the current sweep by us. O Death, come and try us! What if laggards win praise, if the Cause shall go on? Here's to the Cause, and the years that have passed! Here's to the Cause—it will triumph at last! The end shall illumine the hearts that have braved All the years and the fears that the Cause might be saved. And though what we hoped for, and darkly have groped for, come not in the manner we prayed that it should, We shall gladly confess it, and the Cause, may God bless it! shall find us all worthy who did what we could! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...KEATS TO FANNY BRAWNE by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE WHITE ISLAND, OR PLACE OF THE BLEST by ROBERT HERRICK DAYS OF THE MONTH by MOTHER GOOSE EVEN SO by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI SONNET: 110 by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE EYE-WITNESS by FREDERICK RIDGELY TORRENCE THE TENT ON THE BEACH: 5. THE CHANGELING by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER |