Peaceful Victories

How silently the morning light
   Along the east advances ;
And just as quietly the night
   Steals off before its glances.

A little, and a little more,
   Floods all the world in splendor ;
While clouds that ambushed gloom before
   Melt out with tintings tender.

Unroused by winter's stormy call,
   Yet April's kisses waken
The violets by the sunny wall,
   The wind-flowers in the braken.

The love that softly smiles and weeps,—
   The shine through rain-drops melting, —
Can rouse the budded good that sleeps
   In hatred's bitter pelting :

Drive midnight from the darkened soul
   By truth's serene advances,
With no vindictive thunder-roll,
   Or lightning's angry glances.

A calm, insistent, gentle light,
   Bids every gloom surrender,
Dissolving in its crescive white
   To morning's deeper splendor.

By purer faiths and kindlier deeds
   Ye build your sunnier temple,
And quench the fires of gloomy creeds
   In flames of love more ample.