92. the heavenly omen.1
by Elizabeth T. P. Beach.
Oh! say, did ye see round the moon yesternight,“Our colors” encircled in glorious light?
Our “Red, White and Blue,” fair enzoning the sheen
Of the “Goddess Diana,” the heavenly queen?
'Tis most wondrous, I know, but the tale is o'ertrue,
And if ye will listen, I'll tell it to you;
No vision of fancy poetic, I ween,
But an omen most blest, that by hundreds was seen!
As the brave, gallant “Seventh,” were chanting last night,
By the calm, holy gleam of the moon's silvery light,
The songs that our fathers had sung long ago,
When our ensign they bore to the heart of the foe,
And the stars brightly smiled on the flag of our land,
That responsively waved to the song of the band,
The “Star-spangled Banner,” in full chorus glee,
Lo t an omen soul-stirring each soldier did see!
For high in the heavens, encircling her there,
Fair Luna “our colors” did brilliantly wear!
Bright in “trinity” circlets, our “Red, White and Blue,”
In the pure starry skies were presented to view!
Thus she beamed, as the “Star-spangled Banner” they sang,
When a shout of wild gladness exultingly ran!
“ ‘To Diana the Goddess!’ now hail ‘three times three!’ ”
Blest omen from Heaven of our victory!
“Three cheers for Diana!” loud shouted the band;
“Faint not, gallant sons of Columbia's land;
Our cause is for justice, 'gainst treason and shame,
Our rights to uphold, and our country's fair fame.
[73] Sainted heroes are gazing with sad, deathless look,
On the shame that, if with us, they never would brook!
And the pure Queen of Night our loved colors wears,
To say that our cause e'en the high heaven shares! “
--N. Y. Evening Post.
