“When Peace Returns”
Published in the Granada Picket
When “war has smoothed his wrinkled front,”
And meek-eyed peace returning,
Has brightened hearts that long were wont
To sigh in grief and mourning—
How blissful then will be the day
When, from the wars returning,
The weary soldier wends his way
To dear ones that are yearning,
To clasp in true love’s fond embrace,
To gaze with looks so tender
Upon the war-worn form and face
Of Liberty’s defender;
To count with pride each cruel scar,
That mars the manly beauty,
Of him who proved so brave in war,
So beautiful in duty.
When peace returns, throughout our land,
Glad shouts of welcome render
The gallant few of Freedom’s band
Whose cry was “no surrender;”
Who battled bravely to be free
From tyranny’s oppressions,
And won, for Southern chivalry,
The homage of all nations!
And when, again, in Southern bowers
The ray of peace is shining,
Her maidens gather fairest flowers,
And honor’s wreaths are twining,
To bind the brows victorious
On many a field so gory,
Whose names, renowned and glorious,
Shall live in song and story,
Then will affection’s tear be shed,
And pity, joy restraining,
For those, the lost, lamented dead,
Are all beyond our plaining;
They fell in manhood’s prime and might;
And we should not weep the story
That tells of Fame, a sacred light,
Above each grave of glory!