Page:Poet Lore, volume 34, 1923.djvu/311

"Who dares to lead the foremost rank?
The foremost rank who dares to lead?”
They did not speak such words as those:
But silent spirit voices spoke
The message only spirits heard;
Through Tzernagora whispers flew:—
From one rock to another sped.
And, lo, the wonder! One might think
That in the dark, stones came to life,
And trembling, woke, and reared their heads.
Upon the hard and stony ground
Quick feet were speeding everywhere;
And frozen veins of rock grew warm;
Blood boiled and seethed like foaming floods.

And now long bayonets were seen,
That always pointed to the sky:
And girdles carried in their folds
Mysterious things one could not see.
Night's veil concealed the warriors' eyes;
But when the message came, they went.
The darkness of the night was good;
The glittering stars were dimmed by clouds;
Girdles and night the weapons hid;
So in the night the troop passed by.
And as their hero led them on,
His comrades gently spoke his name,
And called him "Meerko."

The troop passed by. But whither?
Ask not that troop, rash one; for who
Would dare to ask the thunder black,
"Oh thunder, whither dost thou go?"
For always it has one reply.
"Not of ourselves, not of ourselves,
But by command we thunder;
And unto Him who bids us roll
Men all should pray."
The troop passed by. But where, who knows?
Save only He who reigns on high.
Perchance for some dire wickedness
This judgment from above will fall.