Page:Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War.djvu/25

Rh The Ancient of Days forever is young,

Forever the scheme of Nature thrives;

I know a wind in purpose strong—

It spins against the way it drives.

What if the gulfs their slimed foundations bare?

So deep must the stones be hurled

Whereon the throes of ages rear

The final empire and the happier world.

(The poor old Past,

The Future's slave,

She drudged through pain and crime

To bring about the blissful Prime,

''Then—perished. There's a grave!'')

Power unanointed may come—

Dominion (unsought by the free)

And the Iron Dome,

Stronger for stress and strain,

Fling her huge shadow athwart the main;

But the Founders' dream shall flee.

Agee after age shall be

As age after age has been,

(From man's changeless heart their way they win);