Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.
III. WarThe Closing Scene
Thomas Buchanan Read (18221872)W
The russet year inhaled the dreamy air;
Like some tanned reaper, in his hour of ease,
When all the fields are lying brown and bare.
O’er the dun waters widening in the vales,
Sent down the air a greeting to the mills
On the dull thunder of alternate flails.
The hills seemed further and the stream sang low,
As in a dream the distant woodman hewed
His winter log with many a muffled blow.
Their banners bright with every martial hue,
Now stood like some sad, beaten host of old,
Withdrawn afar in Time’s remotest blue.
The dove scarce heard its sighing mate’s complaint;
And, like a star slow drowning in the light,
The village church-vane seemed to pale and faint.
Crew thrice,—and all was stiller than before;
Silent, till some replying warden blew
His alien horn, and then was heard no more.
Made garrulous trouble round her unfledged young;
And where the oriole hung her swaying nest,
By every light wind like a censer swung;—
The busy swallows circling ever near,—
Foreboding, as the rustic mind believes,
An early harvest and a plenteous year;—
Shook the sweet slumber from its wings at morn,
To warn the reaper of the rosy east:—
All now was sunless, empty, and forlorn.
And croaked the crow through all the dreamy gloom;
Alone the pheasant, drumming in the vale,
Made echo to the distant cottage-loom.
The spiders moved their thin shrouds night by night,
The thistle-down, the only ghost of flowers,
Sailed slowly by,—passed noiseless out of sight.
And where the woodbine shed upon the porch
Its crimson leaves, as if the Year stood there
Firing the floor with his inverted torch,—
The white-haired matron with monotonous tread
Plied the swift wheel, and with her joyless mien
Sat, like a fate, and watched the flying thread.
Oft supped, and broke the bitter ashen crust;
And in the dead leaves still she heard the stir
Of his black mantle trailing in the dust.
Her country summoned and she gave her all;
And twice War bowed to her his sable plume,—
Re-gave the swords to rust upon the wall.
And struck for Liberty the dying blow;
Nor him who, to his sire and country true,
Fell mid the ranks of the invading foe.
Like the low murmur of a hive at noon;
Long, but not loud, the memory of the gone
Breathed through her lips a sad and tremulous tune.
Life dropt the distaff through his hands serene;
And loving neighbors smoothed her careful shroud,
While Death and Winter closed the autumn scene.