Confederate Memorial

By Will Mitt Shields of Columbia, TN – 1921

“How sleep the brave?” was sung of men

    Who, loving well a native clime,

Stood with a dauntless courage when

    Some menace called for deeds sublime.

They dared to do – dared even to die –

    And now their sacred, mold’ring dust

To all the world does testify

    Of faith they kept with valor’s trust.

“How sleep the brave?” What land has claim

    Of braver sons than ours, than she

Whose children stood to guard her name

    Through storms of stern adversity?

They have not died in vain, but win

    That meed impartial justice gives

True sons. Hate’s manacles of sin

    May curb, not kill, for justice lives.

‘Twas not grim war alone which tried

    Their spirits as a searing flame,

But politics, with hate allied,

    Would crush them to ignoble shame.

For all that spite could hope to achieve

    By constant speech, in ardent song,

Some tried to make the world believe

    That they were right and these were wrong.

But virtues shown by these will shine –

    Refinining fires but prove their worth –

While calumny must know decline,

    Nor bides with lasting things of earth.

It lessens, wanes as dies a flame

    Or light on some receding shore;

But these shall wax as stars of fame

    That gem love’s sky forevermore.

Despite a fog traducers spread –

    A mist that soon must blow away –

The days to come will see our dead

    And deeds of theirs shine as the day.

Shall we who heir such glories won,

    A light to bless all coming age,

Seem by indifference to shun

    And e’en disown such heritage?

Be courage ours, though light be dim,

    As theirs to walk the way they trod,

Unswerving in our faith in Him

    Who is the source of truth, our God.

Sleep, heroes! Though years yet to be

    See not some sorrowing hearts to weep

Your death in anguish, history

    In sacredness your fame shall keep.

Sleep well, nor reck the stinging darts

    Hate ever hurls at those who’ve trod

In Duty’s way, for in our hearts

    You live forever, blessed of God.

“How sleep the brave?” As flowers unfold

    From bud to charm with perfect bloom,

Your flame shall grow through years untold

    And glory gild each name and tomb.