Produced by David Garcia, Eric Eldred, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks, and the Online Distributed Proofreaders Team. DREAMS AND DAYS POEMS BY GEORGE PARSONS LATHROP To ROSL CONTENTS I STRIKE HANDS, YOUNG MEN! "O JAY!" THE STAR TO ITS LIGHT "THE SUNSHINE OF THINE EYES" JESSAMINE THE BOBOLINK SAILOR'S SONG, RETURNING FIRST GLANCE BRIDE BROOK MAY-ROSE THE SINGING WIRE THE HEART OF A SONG SOUTH-WIND THE LOVER'S YEAR NEW WORLDS NIGHT IN NEW YORK THE SONG-SPARROW I LOVED YOU, ONCE---- II THE BRIDE OF WAR A RUNE OF THE RAIN BREAKERS BLACKMOUTH, OF COLORADO THE CHILD-YEAR CHRISTENING THANKSGIVING TURKEY BEFORE THE SNOW III YOUTH TO THE POET THE SWORD DHAM "AT THE GOLDEN GATE" CHARITY HELEN AT THE LOOM THE CASKET OF OPALS LOVE THAT LIVES IV BLUEBIRD'S GREETING THE VOICE OF THE VOID "O WHOLESOME DEATH" INCANTATION FAMINE AND HARVEST THE CHILD'S WISH GRANTED THE FLOWN SOUL SUNSET AND SHORE THE PHOEBE-BIRD A STRONG CITY THREE DOVES V ARISE, AMERICAN! THE NAME OF WASHINGTON GRANT'S DIRGE. BATTLE DAYS KEENAN'S CHARGE MARTHY VIRGINIA'S HAND GETTYSBURG: A BATTLE ODE NOTES STRIKE HANDS, YOUNG MEN! Strike hands, young men! We know not when Death or disaster comes, Mightier than battle-drums To summon us away. Death bids us say farewell To all we love, nor stay For tears;--and who can tell How soon misfortune's hand May smite us where we stand, Dragging us down, aloof, Under the swift world's hoof? Strike hands for faith, and power To gladden the passing hour; To wield the sword, or raise a song;-- To press the grape; or crush out wrong. And strengthen right. Give me the man of sturdy palm And vigorous brain; Hearty, companionable, sane, 'Mid all commotions calm, Yet filled with quick, enthusiastic fire;-- Give me the man Whose impulses aspire, And all his features seem to say, "I can!" Strike hands, young men! 'Tis yours to help rebuild the State, And keep the Nation great. With act and speech and pen 'Tis yours to spread The morning-red That ushers in a grander day: To scatter prejudice that blinds, And hail fresh thoughts in noble minds; To overthrow bland tyrannies That cheat the people, and with slow disease Change the Republic to a mockery. Your words can teach that liberty Means more than just to cry "We're free" While bending to some new-found yoke. So shall each unjust bond be broke, Each toiler gain his meet reward, And life sound forth a truer chord.