James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902.
November 24The Battle in the Clouds
By William Dean Howells (18371920)
W
Like its thunder and its lightning our brave burst on the foe,
Up above the clouds on Freedom’s Lookout Mountain
Raining life-blood like water on the valleys down below.
O, green be the laurels that grow,
O sweet be the wild-buds that blow,
In the dells of the mountain where the brave are lying low.
Light of our hope and crown of our story,
Bright as sunlight, pure as starlight shall their deed of daring glow,
While the day and the night out of heaven shed their glory,
On Freedom’s Lookout Mountain whence they routed Freedom’s foe.
O, soft be the gales when they go
Through the pines on the summit where they blow,
Chanting solemn music for the souls that passed below.