Richard Watson Gilder

The New Day. Part 3. 2. “My Love for Thee Doth March Like Armèd Men”

My love for thee doth march like armèd men,
     ⁠Against a queenly city they would take.
⁠     Along the army's front its banners shake;
     ⁠Across the mountain and the sun-smit plain
It stedfast sweeps as sweeps the stedfast rain;
⁠     And now the trumpet makes the still air quake,
⁠     And now the thundering cannon doth awake
⁠     Echo on echo, echoing loud again.
But, lo! the conquest higher than bard e'er sung:
⁠     Instead of answering cannon, proud surrender!
⁠     Joyful the iron gates are open flung
And, for the conqueror, welcome gay and tender!
⁠     O, bright the invader's path with tribute flowers,
     ⁠While comrade flags flame forth on wall and towers!