Page:Poems Whitney.djvu/114

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108
twenty-second of february.
And men of might, be men of faith,
Far-eyed, deep-eyed and clear!

Valor is valor over the world.
Ah! do not think to gain
The hero's glory and meed of praise,
Without his wound and pain.
"Mid well-won palms, earth's sovereigns sit
On high in joyful calm,
But a bleeding heart is in each one's hand—
A heart for every palm.

Past days,—past men—but present still!
Men who could meet the hour;
And so bore fruit for every age
And amaranthine flower;
Who proved that noble deeds are faith,
And living words are deeds;
And left us dreams beyond their dreams—
And higher hopes and needs.