His silent spirit from the place
Slid forth unseen; amid the throng
Of those whose love outlived disgrace,-
Whose fealty to the last was strong.
‘Midst homage, ‘neath Fate’s adverse reign,
Paid to the star shorn of its rays,-
How passed the Exile?-Lingering fain,-
As never once in prouder days?
The Mother and the Child were there,-
Discrowned and disinherited!-
No hand henceforth to right the heir;
New griefs to bow the golden head.
How passed Napoleon?-Prizing more,
Old fame in camp and council won-
Or fearless England’s aegis, o’er
The future of her ally’s son?
Gate of that World we know not yet,-
What thou beheld’st who may proclaim!-
Were spirit-ranks, in order set,
Haunting thy portals,-as he came,-
With voices murmuring,-“Our life torch,-
Unspent,-was quenched at his behest”?-
Did bygone princes fill the porch,-
Bourbon, and Valois, and the rest?
How passed the soldier?-Cold and stern,-
‘Mid weaponless reproachful ghosts,-
As when he led them forth to learn
How fight the hardy German hosts?
How passed the Emperor where THEY gazed,-
Once wearers of the ancient crown?
As one who knew its lustre blazed
The brighter ere he laid it down?
How passed he?-brighter grows the dream!
Past yon accusing spirit-band,-
Beyond the scornful Old R
(Mary Hannay Foott)
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Based on Topics: Dreams Poems, Place Poems, Past Poems, Sons Poems, Mothers Poems, Future Poems, Ghost Poems, Soldiers PoemsBased on Keywords: prizing, disinherited, weaponless, aegis, wearers, valois, murmuring-, spirit-ranks, spirit-band