We fancied that a Government was ours—
We challenged place among the world's great powers;
We talked in sleep of Rank, Commission,
Until so life-like grew our vision
That he who dared to doubt but met derision,
In the land where we were dreaming.
We looked on high; a banner there was seen,
Whose field was blanched and spotless in its sheen—
Chivalry's cross its Union bears,
And veterans swearing by their scars
Vowed they would bear it through a hundred wars,
In the land where we were dreaming.
A hero came amongst us as we slept;
At first he lowly knelt—then rose and wept;
Then gathering up a thousand spears
He swept across the field of Mars;
Then bowed farewell and walked beyond the stars,
In the land where we were dreaming.
We looked again: another figure still
Gave hope, and nerved each individual will—
Full of grandeur, clothed with power,
Self-poised, erect, he ruled the hour
With stern, majestic sway—of strength a tower,
In the land where we were dreaming.
As, while great Jove, in bronze, a warder God,
Gazed eastward from the Forum where he stood,
Rome felt herself secure and free,
So, "Richmond's safe," we said, while we
Beheld a bronzèd hero—God-like Lee,
In the land where we were dreaming.
As wakes the soldier when the alarum calls—
As wakes the mother when the infant falls—
As starts the traveller when around
His sleeping couch the fire-bells sound—
So woke our nation with a single bound,
In the land where we were dreaming.
Woe! woe is me! the startled mother cried—
While we have slept our noble sons have died!
Woe! woe is me! how strange and sad
That all our glorious vision's fled,
And left us nothing real but the dead,
In the land where we were dreaming.
Daniel B. Lucas.
ACCEPTATION