65. to arms!
by Martha Perry Lowe.
Traitors and foes! We shall arm! We shall arm!Brethren are ye?--but it matters us not--
Men of the South! We are calm! We are calm!
You are like madmen, misguided and hot!
Long have we patiently borne with your hate;
Shame has been rising and flushing our brow;
Oh!
we've entreated you, early and late--
God only knows what has come o'er us now!
We are not angry — the fire is too deep;
We will not taunt — that's for boys, and not men;
Yet we have sworn, and our word we will keep,
Never shall you trample on us again!
You have dishonored the Stripes and the Stars!
The pale North a moment did hold in her breath;
Now thousands of eyes, like the red planet Mars,
Do glare on you steady defiance and death!
You love not to work, you are all gentle-men;
Arms are your pastime, and “fight” is your word;
We love the plow, and the loom, and the pen;
Nobler is Peace, to our hearts, than the Sword.
You have been plotting all over the land--
You have been training to tear down the State;
We've not been playing with weapons in hand,
But we'll tear down your flag, at the Capitol's gate!
Lord of the Nations!
Restrain us!
Restrain I
Terrible, mighty, our waking will be;
Blood, when it falls, will come down as the rain,
Flooding the earth like the surge of the sea!
Then courage, ye men of the North and the West I
A nation is springing again into birth!
In the beautiful garments of liberty drest,
Forever to stand the desire of the earth!
