The Red Flower: Poems Written in War Time

Produced by Ted Garvin, Tonya Allen and PG Distributed Proofreaders
1919
These are verses that came to me in this dreadful war time amid the cares and labors of a heavy task.
Two of the poems, A Scrap of Paper and Stand Fast, were written in 1914 and bore the signature Civis Americanus —the use of my own name at the time being impossible. Two others, Lights Out and Remarks about Kings, were read for me by Robert Underwood Johnson at the meeting of the American Academy in Boston, November, 1915, at which I was unable to be present.
The rest of the verses were printed after I had resigned my diplomatic post and was free to say what I thought and felt, without reserve.
The Interludes in Holland are thoughts of the peaceful things that will abide for all the world after we have won this war against war.
SYLVANORA, October 1, 1917.
June 1914
In the pleasant time of Pentecost, By the little river Kyll, I followed the angler's winding path Or waded the stream at will. And the friendly fertile German land Lay round me green and still.
But all day long on the eastern bank Of the river cool and clear, Where the curving track of the double rails Was hardly seen though near, The endless trains of German troops Went rolling down to Trier.
They packed the windows with bullet heads And caps of hodden gray; They laughed and sang and shouted loud When the trains were brought to a stay; They waved their hands and sang again As they went on their iron way.
No shadow fell on the smiling land, No cloud arose in the sky; I could hear the river's quiet tune When the trains had rattled by; But my heart sank low with a heavy sense Of trouble,—I knew not why.