Dreams are they? But ye cannot stay them, Or thrust the dawn back for one hour! Truth, Love, and Justice, if ye slay them, Return with more than earthly power: Strive, if ye will, to seal the fountains That send the Spring thro' leaf and spray: Drive back the sun from the Eastern mountains, Then--bid this mightier movement stay. It is the Dawn of Peace! The nations From East to West have heard a cry,-- "Through all earth's blood-red generations By hate and slaughter climbed thus high, Here--on this height--still to aspire, One only path remains untrod, One path of love and peace climbs higher! Make straight that highway for our God." THE BRINGERS OF GOOD NEWS Like fallen stars the watch-fires gleamed Along our menaced age that night! Our bivouacked century tossed and dreamed Of battle with the approaching light. Rumors of change, a sea-like roar, Shook the firm earth with doubt and dread: The clouds, in rushing legions bore Their tattered eagles overhead. I saw the muffled sentries rest On the dark hills of Time. I saw Around them march from East to West The stars of the unresting law. I knew that in their mighty course They brought the dawn, they brought the day; And that the unconquerable force Of the new years was on the way. I heard the feet of that great throng! I saw them shine, like hope, afar! Their shout, their shout was like a song, And O, 'twas not a song of war! Yet, as the whole world with their tramp Quivered, a signal-lightning spoke, A bugle warned our darkling camp, And, like a thunder-cloud, it woke. Our searchlights raked the world's wide ends. O'er the dark hills a grey light crept. Down, through the light, that host of friends We took for foemen, triumphing swept. The old century could not hear their cry, How should it hear the song they sang? _We bring good news!_ It pierced the sky! _We bring good news!_ The welkin rang. One shout of triumph and of faith; And then--our shattering cannon roared! But, over the reeking ranks of death, The song rose like a single sword. _We bring good news!_ Red flared the guns! _We bring good news!_ The sabres flashed! And the dark age with its own sons In blind and furious battle clashed. A swift, a terrible bugle pealed. The sulphurous clouds were rolled away. Embraced, embraced, on that red field, The wounded and the dying lay. _We bring good news!_ Blood choked the word, --_We knew you not; so dark the night!-- O father, was I worth your sword? O son, O herald of the light!_