GOLD
From the green Cycadeæn ages,
From the gloom of the Cambrian fen,
From the days of the mighty mammoth
And the years of the dog-toothed men,
I’ve lifted ye clear to the summits—
A toy of the upper air—
I’ve dashed ye down to the pits again
To laugh at your despair.
I beckoned across the chasm
To watch ye stumble in,
And never a light to left or right
On the crags of shame and sin.
I called ye over mountains—
I called ye over seas—
And ye came in hosts from all the coasts
To taste of the tainted breeze.
Honor and King and Country—
Sire and Seed and God—
Ye have given all to the Siren’s call
When I but chose to nod.
Ye have given all to the Siren’s call—
To the mock of the Siren’s strain—
Ye have made a choice and never a voice
May bid ye back again.
THE LEGION
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA REUNION ODE
Across the hill I saw them come—
A deep-ranked serried legion.
Across the hill I saw them come—
The faithful cohorts there.
Bank, bar and bench—mine, mart and trench—
From every clime and region,
In manly might and majesty—
And I knew the sight was fair.
I saw them halt against the hill
In loyal lines unbroken;
I heard them answer to the Roll,
Nor ever missed a name;
For they foregathered past recall
Were there by every token,
As, ’cross the valley to a man
The thundering echoes came.
I saw them passing o’er the hill
In serried ranks unbroken;
’Twas stirrup touching stirrup
In the sunshine and the rain.
And good the pride to see them ride
With strength renewed and spoken,
Till love of Pennsylvania
Should call them home again.