SONNET ON THE RIVER DAN.

SONNET ON THE RIVER DAN

Not as a trickle widened to a brook
By other trickles bent into its course,
Not braided of confederate streams that took
From one another an increase of force,
But leaping from its source, a torrent strong
With clashing waves, a hero at his birth,
The river Dan, that dashes here along
And now receives, as tribute from the earth,
A hundred springs that from the same hill's side
Run out, as the shy children of his clan
Run out to second and be carried by
Their champion, their victory's destined man.
O soon may from the Source leap forth that One
By whose help we may call our warfare done!