WITH the hills of their fathers around them— The heaven of their country above,— They stood, in the strength of their manhood; They went in the light of our love. In the pride of their power they departed, Down by the path of the sea: Dark eyes of the desolate-hearted Were watching for them—and for thee! Who comes from the banquet of blood, Where the guests are as still as a stone? Who dares to return by the road Where the steps of his joy are @3alone?@1 They were bound by the oath of the free,— They were true as the steel that they bare,— They were true to themselves, and to thee! Behold! @3thou@1 hast left them—and where! Oh! well has their triumph been told, In the time of its terrible crowning; Poor recreant!—kingly, though cold, Is the sleep that thou durst not lie down in! The swords of the restless are rusted In the rest that thou shrankest to share: False helot!—to whom hast thou trusted The pride of the peaceful—and where? For thee,—who wast not of the number That sank in the red battle shade,— Thy name shall be cursed in the slumber Of the life that thy baseness betrayed! The strength of the tremorless tread Of our bravest, our love can resign,— But tears, as of blood, shall be shed For the dastard returning of thine. But, what! when thy soul hath not hearkened To the charge of our love, or our fear, Shall the soft eyes of Hellas be darkened By the thought of thy birth, or thy bier? The strength of thy shame shall requite thee,— The souls of the lost shall not see,— Mother nor maid of the mighty Shed tear for a dastard like thee! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ARCHIMEDES LAST FORAY by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET NORTH WINTER by HAYDEN CARRUTH UNTITLED, 1968; FOR MARK ROTHKO by JAMES GALVIN TO JOHN BROWN by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON THE TEMPTRESS by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: OAKS TUTT by EDGAR LEE MASTERS |