The Winter Warriors
THIS road we ride forever —
The winds are up to-night,
The clouds are black and scattered
The moon is keen and white.
The winds are up to-night,
The clouds are black and scattered
The moon is keen and white.
Come, winds of winter, striding
Adown the mountain side!
In frozen, clanging armor
Your sworded warriors ride!
Adown the mountain side!
In frozen, clanging armor
Your sworded warriors ride!
Come, heralding your storm-king
In raiment spangled,white,
Who tries our hearts and sinews,
Who calls us forth to fight!
In raiment spangled,white,
Who tries our hearts and sinews,
Who calls us forth to fight!
Come, bring the five-month winter
Of boisterous days and snow,
Of silent trackless forests,
And fir-trees bended low;
Of boisterous days and snow,
Of silent trackless forests,
And fir-trees bended low;
Of nights when all the heavens
Are dashed with splendid stars,
When northern lights in ancient fights
Clash flaming on the scaurs!
Are dashed with splendid stars,
When northern lights in ancient fights
Clash flaming on the scaurs!
See, see the winter warriors
That spur in squalls of white,
With lance in rest and plume on crest,
All charging through the night!
That spur in squalls of white,
With lance in rest and plume on crest,
All charging through the night!
The stars are in my pulses, —
And white the wdid-swept snow!
Strike spur and slacken bridle;
We’ll ride forever so!
And white the wdid-swept snow!
Strike spur and slacken bridle;
We’ll ride forever so!