The Crosses by Virna Sheard (1922)

Name: The Crosses
Author: Virna Sheard

The work is a reflective narrative that interweaves personal destiny with the haunting memory of sacrifice. Its central symbol is a series of humble crosses set upon distant fields—a constant, spectral presence that follows the characters through their daily lives and serves as a perpetual reminder of the cost of freedom. The crosses, crafted by caring hands, are imbued with both a spiritual and historical significance: each one stands as a silent testament to a past marked by personal and communal loss, a legacy of hardship that has nonetheless forged a resilient spirit among a people unafraid to face their destiny. At its heart, the narrative follows a protagonist whose journey is both physical and metaphoric. Drawn repeatedly to these markers of remembrance, the character embarks on a pilgrimage that involves not only traversing familiar landscapes but also delving into the recesses of memory and identity. The crosses act as guideposts along this path, their presence echoing the themes of inevitability, continuity, and the intertwined nature of personal struggle with a broader historical tapestry. Each encounter with a cross triggers recollections of sacrifice—both personal and collective—and forces the protagonist to confront the enduring impact of past events on the present. The work is structured around a series of episodes and reflective interludes, in which the natural world—the silver hour, rose-dusk dawns, and starlit nights—mirrors the inner life of those seeking solace or redemption among the memorials. The setting creates an atmosphere wherein the boundary between sleep and wakefulness, myth and memory, becomes blurred. This liminal space allows for moments of introspection in which the protagonist, much like a pilgrim at a shrine, seeks a deeper understanding of the heritage that underpins both individual identity and national character. Themes of sacrifice, remembrance, and fate are explored with a lyrical intensity. The crosses, though small and humble, symbolize the weight of a legacy paid in blood and tears—a legacy that sanctifies the pursuit of liberty and underscores the cost inherent in the fight for freedom. Each cross carved with a beloved name serves both as a marker of loss and a beacon of hope—a physical manifestation of the enduring connection between the past and the present. In this way, the work posits that history is never truly past; it is an ever-present companion that shapes actions, influences decisions, and defines the course of future paths. Amid these meditations, the narrative does not shy away from the stark reality that the price of freedom is steep. The memorial crosses, while evoking tenderness and reverence, are also harbingers of the relentless passage of time and the inexorable need to honor those who have sacrificed. The characters’ interactions with these symbols force them to reckon with the reality that while the past is etched in stone and memory, it continues to direct the trajectory of every step taken by those who live in its shadow. In essence, the work is a meditation on the intersection of memory and destiny. It uses the metaphor of the crosses to explore how a community—and by extension, an individual—struggles to reconcile the burden of historical retribution with the enduring human spirit. The narrative is both an elegiac remembrance of what has been lost and a celebration of the resilience required to move forward, with the silent, watchful crosses looming as eternal witnesses to both the grief and the hope that define the human experience.

By Virna Sheard · First published 1922 · Genre: Religious Poetry, Meditative Poetry, Inspirational Poetry · 201 words

First lines

The little lonely crosses, the crosses low and white, They haunt me most in the silver hour That lies against the night; Or when the rose-dusk dawn comes in, With a star for candlelight.

The little lonely crosses in fields so far away, They cast a shadow on my path -- And, take which road I may, It follows, follows, follows -- Throughout the livelong day.

O little lonely crosses that gentle hands have made, You mean to us forevermore The price that has been paid For a heritage of Freedom, And a People unafraid.

So, as a Pilgrim to his shrine, in dreams I rise and go, To find the poppied place of sleep, And the crosses row on row; The crosses carved with names beloved, The crosses white and low.

What this Textopian page supports

The Crosses is listed on Textopian as a poem by Virna Sheard, dated 1922 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Poem
Author: Virna Sheard
Date: 1922 CE
Language: English
Genres: Religious Poetry, Meditative Poetry, Inspirational Poetry, Patriotic Poetry, Lyrical Poetry
Length: 201 words
Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Religious Poetry — The work centers on the symbolism of crosses, sacrifice, and spiritual heritage.
Meditative Poetry — The text reflects an introspective, contemplative tone with imagery of pilgrimage and solitude.
Inspirational Poetry — Themes of sacrifice and the legacy of freedom are used to evoke emotional and motivational responses.
Patriotic Poetry — Allusions to a heritage of freedom and a collective identity introduce elements of national pride.