Gone Forward

YES, 'Let the tent be struck': victorious morning Through every crevice flashes in a day Magnificent beyond all earth's adorning: The night is over; wherefore should he stay? And wherefore should our voices choke to say, 'The General has gone forward'? Life's foughten field not once beheld surrender; But with superb endurance, present, past, Our pure commander, lofty, simple, tender, Through good, through ill, held his high purpose fast, Wearing his armor spotless, - till at last Death gave the final 'Forward!' All hearts grew sudden palsied: Yet what said he Thus summoned? - 'Let the tent be struck!' - For when Did call of duty fail to find him ready Nobly to do his work in sight of men, For God's and for his country's sake - and then To watch, wait, or go forward? We will not weep, - we dare not! Such a story As his large life writes on the century's years, Should crowd our bosoms with a flush of glory, That manhood's type, supremest that appears To-day, he shows the ages. Nay, no tears Because he has gone forward! Gone forward? - whither? Where the marshalled legions, Christ's well-worn soldiers, from their conflicts cease, - Where Faith's true Red-Cross Knights repose in regions Thick-studded with the calm, white tents of peace, - Thither, right joyful to accept release, The General has gone forward!