Classic Poem

'T WAS revelation and transfiguration.
Seeing he rose, resolved he entered in —
The warrior-priest of Culture's ancient fane,
The prophet-royal of the age of peace.

The name and fame of Lee turned broken shrines
Into rebuilded altars of the soul
Bright with the fires of a new chivalry.
Thus Lexington became a gloried place.
Unto it flocked the young men of the South.
They met Lee there, enrolled beneath his sign
Of education and allegiance.
They felt the spirit of Lincoln there through Lee.
They learned the culturing of sacrifice,
The knowledge that is power because it serves.
And from Lee's presence went illumined sons
Of a great Alma Mater, priests and seers
Of the New South and of a saved Republic.

Thus did the town of Lexington become
A place of oracles. Lee's acts of grace
Were challengers unto the noblest beats
Of Southern hearts. And as he finely spoke
So finely they accepted. Words from him
Were phrasings of the Right. His loyalty
Unto the Union was the final blow
To the Confederate dream. And through the South,
Blasted and wasted by the wrack of war,
Allegiance as the offspring of Lee's soul
Arose in all the people's bruised hearts,
Turning to welcome of the larger day.