Decoration-Day Discord, A · The Burleigh Family of Plainfield, Connecticut: An Anti-Racist Abolitionist Legacy

Decoration-Day Discord, A

Even now, while listening to the songs of May,

The nerves of hearing vibrate in my brain

With strange discordance and a sudden pain;

Conflicting noises rise from far away, –

The crash and tumult of a deadly fray

With jubilates for the golden reign

Of peace resceptered and this grand refrain

“Glory to God, whom all the isles obey!”

A savage yell confounds the happy cry,

The benediction strangles at Amen!

Exploding bombs and murder shrieks reply,

And the white angel flies to heaven again!

The nation’s right hand wields the sanguine word, –

The left, in thanks for peace, is lifted to the Lord!

GEORGE SHEPARD BURLEIGH.

Providence, R. I., May 25, 1899.

Title: Decoration-Day Discord, A
Alternative Title: Even now, while listening to the songs of May
Creator: George Shepard Burleigh; George Shepard Burleigh
Date: 1899-05-25
Bibliographic Citation: George S. Burleigh Papers, 1825-1902. John Hay Library, Brown University. Large Scrapbook 331
comment: Providence, R. I., May 25, 1899
In the copy from the John Hay Library Collection, this poem is printed, so it likely has an undiscovered bibliographic reference to a newspaper (most likely, judging from the print and paper coloring) or periodical. When discovered, this will be added to the Bibliographic Citation above. Please contact this website's editors if found.
location: Providence, Rhode Island; Rhode Island