TO AN UNIONIST.

“If you only knew

How gladly I've given it

All these years —

The light of mine eyes,

The heat of my lips,

Mine agonies,

My yearning tears,

My blood that drips,

My brain that sears:

If you only knew

How gladly I've given it

All these years —

My hope and my youth,

My manhood, my Art,

My passion, my truth,

My mind and my heart:

“O my brother, you would not say,

What have you to do with me?

You would not, would not turn away

Doubtingly and bitterly.

“If you only knew

How little I cared for

These other things —

The delicate speech,

The high demand

Of each from each,

The imaginings

Of Love's Holy Land:

If you only knew

How little I cared for

These other things —

The wide clear view

Over peoples and times,

The search in the new

Entrancing climes,

Science's wings

And Art's sweet chimes:

“O my brother, if you only knew

What to me in these things is understood,

As it seems to me it would seem to you,

What was good for the Cause was surely good:

“O my brother, you would not say:

What have you to do with me?

You would not, would not turn away

Doubtingly and bitterly:

“But you would take my hand with your hand,

O my brother, if you only knew;

You would smile at me, you would understand,

You would call me brother as I call you!”