BATTLES.
Joaquin Miller
ay, not for fame, but for the Right; - To make this fair world fairer still.
- Or lordly lily of a night,
- Or sun-topped tower of a hill,
- Or high or low, or near or far,
- Or dull or keen, or bright or dim,
- Or blade of glass, or brightest star,
- All, all are but the same to Him.
- O pity of the strife for place;
- O pity of the strife for power;
- How scarred, how marred a mountain's face;
- How fair the fair face of a flower.
- The blade of grass beneath your feet,
- The bravest sword: ay, braver far,
- To do and die in mute defeat,
- Thou bravest Conqueror of war.
- When I am dead say this, but this,
- He grasped at no man's blade or shield,
- Or banner bore, but helmetless,
- Alone, unknown, he held the field;
- He held the field with saber drawn,
- Where God had set him in the fight;
- He held the field, fought on and on,
- And so fell fighting for the Right.