Poems (Kennedy)/The Red Cross
RED CROSS
(Florence Nightingale did her mission of nursing before the institution of the Red Cross order; but she lived an invalid long years after its organization and was no doubt deeply interested in it.)
SPIRIT of Florence Nightingale
Bending where red shells rain,
'Twas you who blazed the mercy path
Across the battle plain.
Bending where red shells rain,
'Twas you who blazed the mercy path
Across the battle plain.
Soul of you, Clara Barton, shrined
Where demon hatreds pressed,
We see you 'gainst the rolling smoke,
The Red Cross on your breast.
Where demon hatreds pressed,
We see you 'gainst the rolling smoke,
The Red Cross on your breast.
Before that symbol vengeance stops,
And love dares show its face,
Molochs of carnage know it for
Sign-manual of God's grace.
And love dares show its face,
Molochs of carnage know it for
Sign-manual of God's grace.
'Twill go down through the un-dawned years
From time's abyss unfurled,
The pledge of those who light the torch
Of mercy for the world.
From time's abyss unfurled,
The pledge of those who light the torch
Of mercy for the world.
Where war's red banners fill the sky
Are spread its tents of peace,
Where famine walks or floods sweep down
It brings its own surcease.
Are spread its tents of peace,
Where famine walks or floods sweep down
It brings its own surcease.
Where east runs west and south climbs north,
In calm or tempest's breath,
Armies of Red Cross wearers hold
The gates twixt life and death.
In calm or tempest's breath,
Armies of Red Cross wearers hold
The gates twixt life and death.