Classic Poem

While thus Lee mused upon the interplay
Of history and sophistry, his mind
Seeing anew each tragic fallacy,
His heart perceiving as in mirrors clear
The march of consequences, love withal,
And time's processions of Democracy
Passing beneath the banners of the sky,
A-sudden from the City's shining spires
The chimes rang out the season's Passion strains;
And as they phrased the sacrifice of Love
Upon Emancipation's lifted Cross,
He seemed to hear, as from its ancient tower,
The sweet commingling bell of Old Saint John's,
And Patrick Henry's far reverberant voice —
There in that sacred and historic fane,
There at the Old Dominion's very heart —
Raising the war-cry of the Revolution,
Shouting, " Is life so dear, or peace so sweet
As to be purchased at the price of chains
And slavery? ... Give me liberty or death! "
At length Lee saw, at last he understood.
Had he not fought for chains and slavery,
Abhorring both? And likewise for disunion,
To him repugnant, had he not drawn sword?
And thus had he not joined with all they meant,
Were, and might be for myriad after years.

Disunion, Slavery! Against these twain
Lincoln, the Nation's Head, had been engaged,
Fighting the battles of Democracy,
And ever in the spirit of the Christ;
And fighting thus had fallen, as Christ fell,
In the great cause of human liberty.

And there in Richmond, with the memories
Of his last night's confusions, and the sense
Of a new Calvary thrust upon the world,
At Lincoln's Cross Lee saw America
And Love's redemption of her, North and South.
And there in blood by hands of Slavery shed
He cleansed his spirit of the past's delusions.