Page:All quiet along the Potomac and other poems.djvu/76

7O Great Night with its solemn starry eyes, Over Day's gate asks us whither We go&mdash;what our password is To the camp beyond the river.

But sunny Noon with its sleepy smile Ripples the grain -field over, Without a thought of the silent graves That may lie beneath the clover.

Knee-deep the drowsy cattle stand In the water's golden glimmer, While berry-bush and bramble-spray Along the hot wall shimmer.

The ploughshare glitters in the sun, Through murdered daisies clinging; The nested birds leave busy bees To do the noonday singing.

Bright Noon no eager questions asks, But, like an old dame's story, Told as she holds us on her breast, Croons soft of love and glory.

The weary ploughman's lazy length Lies in the shadow narrow That clings about the haystack foot, Careless as guarded sparrow.