Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ACCEPTATION, by MARGARET JUNKIN PRESTON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ACCEPTATION, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: We do accept thee, heavenly peace!
Last Line: And leave to god and heaven the rest.
Subject(s): American Civil War; Peace; U.s. - History


I

WE do accept thee, heavenly Peace!
Albeit thou comest in a guise
Unlooked for -- undesired, our eyes
Welcome through tears the sweet release
From war, and woe, and want, -- surcease,
For which we bless thee, blessed Peace!

II

We lift our foreheads from the dust;
And as we meet thy brow's clear calm,
There falls a freshening sense of balm
Upon our spirits. Fear -- distrust --
The hopeless present on us thrust --
We'll meet them as we can, and must.

III

War has not wholly wrecked us: still
Strong hands, brave hearts, high souls are ours --
Proud consciousness of quenchless powers--
A Past whose memory makes us thrill --
Futures uncharactered, to fill
With heroisms -- if we will.

IV

Then courage, brothers!--Though each breast
Feel oft the rankling thorn, despair,
That failure plants so sharply there --
No pain, no pang shall be confest:
We'll work and watch the brightening west,
And leave to God and Heaven the rest.





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