Library of Congress Poetry Resources

Acceptation

We do accept thee, heavenly Peace!
       Albeit thou comest in a guise
       Unlooked for--undesired, our eyes
Welcome through tears the sweet release
From war, and woe, and want,--surcease,
For which we bless thee, blessed Peace!

We lift our foreheads from the dust;
       And as we meet thy brow's clear calm,
       There falls a freshening sense of balm
Upon our spirits. Fear--distrust--
The hopeless present on us thrust--
We'll meet them as we can, and must.

War has not wholly wrecked us; still
       Strong hands, brave hearts, high souls are ours--
       Proud consciousness of quenchless powers--
A Past whose memory makes us thrill--
Futures uncharactered, to fill
With heroisms--if we will.

Then courage, brothers!--Though each breast
       Feel oft the rankling thorn, despair,
       That failure plants so sharply there--
No pain, no pang shall be confest:
We'll work and watch the brightening west,
And leave to God and Heaven, the rest.

--by Margaret Junkin Preston