Explore "Reinforcements" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Yea, we despair. Because the night is long, / And all arms weary with the endless fight / With blind, black forces of insulted law / Which we continually disobey, / And know not how to honor if we would.
How can we fight when every effort fails, / And the vast hydra looms before us still / Headed as thickly as at dawn of day, / Fierce as when evening fell on us at war? / We are aweary, and no help appears; / No light, no knowledge, no sure way to kill / Our ancient enemy. Let us give o'er! / We do but fight with fate! Lay down your arms! / Retreat! Surrender! Better live as slaves / Than fight forever on a losing field!
Hold, ye faint-hearted! Ye are not alone! / Into your worn-out ranks of weary men / Come mighty reinforcements, even now! / Look where the dawn is kindling in the east, / Brave with the glory of the better day,- / A countless host, an endless host, all fresh, / With unstained banners and unsullied shields, / With shining swords that point to victory, / And great young hearts that know not how to fear,- / The Children come to save the weary world!