The Song of the Captured Confederate Battle-Flags

We loved the wild clamor of battle,
The crash of the musketry's rattle,
The bugle and drum.
We have drooped in the dust, long and lonely;
The blades that flashed joy are rust only,
The far-rolling war music dumb.

God rest the true souls in death lying,
For whom overhead proudly flying
We challenged the foe.
The storm of the charge we have breasted,
On the hearts of our dead we have rested,
In the pride of a day long ago.

Ah, surely the good of God's making
Shall answer both those past awaking
And life's cry of pain;
But we nevermore shall be tossing
On surges of battle where crossing
The swift-flying death-bearers rain.

Again in the wind we are streaming,
Again with the war lust are dreaming
The call of the shell.
What gray heads look up at us sadly?
Are these the stern troopers who madly
Rode straight at the battery's hell?

Nay, more than the living have found us,
Pale spectres of battle surround us;
The gray line is dressed.
Ye hear not, but they who are bringing
Your symbols of honor are singing
The song of death's bivouac rest.

Blow forth on the south wind to greet us,
O star flag, once eager to meet us
When war lines were set.
Go carry to far fields of glory
The soul-stirring thrill of the story
Of days when in anger we met.

Ah, well that we hung in the churches
In quiet, where God the heart searches;
That, under us met,
Men heard through the murmur of praying
The voice of the torn banners saying,
"Forgive, but ah! never forget!"