Apocalypse
by Clarence Butler
“All hail to the stars and stripes!” — Luther C. Ladd.
Straight to his heart the bullet crushed, Down from his breast the red blood gushed, And o’er his face a glory rushed.
A sudden spasm rent his frame, And in his ears there went and came A sound as of devouring flame,
Which in a moment ceased, and then The great light clasped his brows again, So that they shone like Stephen's, when
Saul stood apart a little space, And shook with shuddering awe to trace God's splendors settling o'er his face.
Thus, like a king, erect in pride, Raising his hands to heaven, he cried, “All hail the Stars and Stripes!” and died.
Died grandly: but, before he fell, (O, blessedness ineffable!) Vision apocalyptical
Was granted to him, and his eyes, All radiant with glad surprise, Looked forward through the centuries,
And saw the seeds that sages cast In the world's soil in cycles past, Spring up and blossom at the last:
Saw how the souls of men had grown, And where the scythes of Truth had mown Clear space for Liberty's white throne:
Saw how, by Sorrow tried and proved, The last dark stains had been removed Forever from the land he loved.
Saw Treason crushed, and Freedom crowned, And clamorous Faction, gagged and bound, Gasping its life out on the ground;
While over all his country's slopes Walked swarming troops of cheerful hopes, Which evermore to broader scopes
Increased, with power that comprehends The world's weal in its own, and bends Self-needs to large, unselfish ends.
Saw how, throughout the vast extents Of earth's most populous continents, She dropped such rare heart-affluence,
That, from beyond the farthest seas, The wondering peoples thronged to seize Her proffered pure benignities; —
And how of all her trebled host Of widening empires, none could boast Whose strength or love was uppermost,
Because they grew so equal there Beneath the flag, which, debonnaire, Waved joyous in the golden air: —
Wherefore the martyr, gazing clear Beyond the gloomy atmosphere Which shuts us in with doubt and fear, —
He, marking how her high increase Ran greatening in perpetual lease Through balmy years of odorous Peace,
Greeted, in one transcendent cry Of intense, passionate extacy, The sight that thrilled him utterly,—
Saluting with most proud disdain Of murder and of mortal pain, The vision which shall be again:
So, lifted with prophetic pride, Raised conquering hands to heaven, and cried, “All hail the Stars and Stripes!” —and died.
Clarence Butler.