<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">To America</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">When</span> the fire sinks in the grate, and night has bent</p><p class="line">Close wings about the room, and winter stands</p><p class="line">Hard-eyed before the window, when the hands</p><p class="line">Have turned the book's last page and friends are sleeping,</p><p class="line">Thought, as it were an old stringed instrument</p><p class="line">Drawn to remembered music, oft does set</p><p class="line">The lips moving in prayer, for us fresh keeping</p><p class="line">Knowledge of springtime and the violet.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And, as the eyes grow dim with many years,</p><p class="line">The spirit runs more swiftly than the feet,</p><p class="line">Perceives its comfort, knows that it will meet</p><p class="line">God at the end of troubles, that the dreary</p><p class="line">Last reaches of old age lead beyond tears</p><p class="line">To happy youth unending. There is peace</p><p class="line">In homeward waters, where at last the weary</p><p class="line">Shall find rebirth, and their long struggle cease.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">So, at this hour, when the Old World lies sick,</p><p class="line">Beyond the pain, the agony of breath</p><p class="line">Hard drawn, beyond the menaces of death,</p><p class="line">O'er graves and years leans out the eager spirit.</p><p class="line">First must the ancient die; then shall be quick</p><p class="line">New fires within us. Brother, we shall make</p><p class="line">Incredible discoveries and inherit</p><p class="line">The fruits of hope, and love shall be awake.</p></div><p class="byline">Charles Langbridge Morgan</p></body></html> · Great War