Jane Caroline Reed's Copy Book: The Blue and the Gray by F.M. Finch

Jane Caroline Reed

The Blue + the Gray

By the flow of the inland river,
Whence the fleets of the iron have fled,
Where the blades of the grave-grass quiver,
Asleep are the ranks of the dead;-
Under the sod and the dew,
Waiting the judgment day;-
Under the one, the Blue;
Under the other, the Gray.

Those in the robings of glory,
Those in the gloom of defeat,
All with the battle-blood gory
In the duck of eternity meet;-
Under the sod + the dew;
Waiting the judgement day;-
Under the laurel, the Blue;
Under the willow, the Gray.

From the silence of sorrowful hearts

The desolate mourners go,

Lovingly laden with flowers

Alike, for the friend + the foe;-

Under the sod + the dew,

Waiting the judgement day;-

Under the roses, the Blue,

Under the lilies, the Gray.

So with an equal splendor

The morning sun-rays fall,

With a touch, impartially tender,

On the blossoms blooming for all;

Under the sod + the dew,

Waiting the judgement day;-

Broidered with gold, the Blue;

Mellowed with gold, the Gray.

So when the Summer calleth,

On forest + field of grain

With an equal murmur falleth

The cooling drip of the rain;-

Under the sod + the dew,

Waiting for judgement day;-

Wet with the rain, the Blue:

Wet with the rain, the Gray.

Sadly, but not with upbraiding,

The generous deed was done;

In the storm of the years that are fading,

No braver battle was won;-

Under the sod + the dew,

Waiting the judgement day;-

Under the blossoms, the Blue.

Under the garlands, the Gray.

No more shall the war-cry sever, 

Or the winding rivers be red;

They banish our anger forever

When they laurel the graves of our dead!

Under the sod + the dew,

Waiting the judgement day;-

Love + tears for the Blue,

Tears + love the Gray.

Atlantic Monthly

September 1867-