The battery grides and jingles, br Mile succeeds to mile; br Shaking the noonday sunshine br The guns lunge out awhile, br And then are still awhile. br br We amble along the highway; br The reeking, powdery dust br Ascends and cakes our faces br With a striped, sweaty crust. br br Under the still sky's violet br The heat throbs on the air…. br The white road's dusty radiance br Assumes a dark glare. br br With a head hot and heavy, br And eyes that cannot rest, br And a black heart burning br In a stifled breast, br br I sit in the saddle, br I feel the road unroll, br And keep my senses straightened br Toward to-morrow's goal. br br There, over unknown meadows br Which we must reach at last, br Day and night thunders br A black and chilly blast. br br Heads forget heaviness, br Hearts forget spleen, br For by that mighty winnowing br Being is blown clean. br br Light in the eyes again, br Strength in the hand, br A spirit dares, dies, forgives, br And can understand! br br And, best! Love comes back again br After grief and shame, br And along the wind of death br Throws a clean flame. br br The battery grides and jingles, br Mile succeeds to mile; br Suddenly battering the silence br The guns burst out awhile…. br br I lift my head and smile.