Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE BLUE AND THE GRAY, by FRANCIS MILES FINCH Poet's Biography First Line: By the flow of the inland river Last Line: Tears and love for the gray. Variant Title(s): Decoration Day;memorial Day Subject(s): American Civil War; Graves; Holidays; Memorial Day; Patriotism; Peace; Soldiers; United States - History; Tombs; Tombstones; Declaration Day | ||||||||
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...MEMORIAL DAY by JOSEPHINE MILES MEMORIAL DAY FOR THE WAR DEAD by YEHUDA AMICHAI MEMORIAL DAY by MICHAEL ANANIA AN ODE ON THE UNVEILING OF THE SHAW MEMORIA BOSTON COMMON, MAY 31, 1897 by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH FREDERICKSBURG by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE DEATH OF GRANT by AMBROSE BIERCE MEMORIAL DAY by WILLIAM E. BROOKS VANQUISHED; ON THE DEATH OF GENERAL GRANT by FRANCIS FISHER BROWNE NATHAN HALE [SEPTEMBER 22, 1776] by FRANCIS MILES FINCH MONODY ON THE DEATH OF WILLIAM MARION REEDY by EDGAR LEE MASTERS |
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