Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


LINCOLN LEADS by MINNA IRVING

First Line: ACROSS THE PAGE OF HISTORY
Last Line: FOR LINCOLN LEADS THEM ALL.
Subject(s): LINCOLN, ABRAHAM (1809-1865); PRESIDENTS, UNITED STATES;

ACROSS the page of history,
As in a looking glass
Or on a moving-picture screen,
The Nation's heroes pass;
With sword and mace and pen they pace
In epaulets and braid,
And some, with ruffles at their wrists,
In linen fine arrayed.

But at the long procession's head,
In loose ill-fitting clothes,
A lanky woodsman with an axe
Upon his shoulder goes;
In every patriotic heart
The figure lean and tall
Is shrined beside the starry flag
For Lincoln leads them all.



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