Explore "The Young Warrior" by James Weldon Johnson on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Mother, shed no mournful tears, / But gird me on my sword;
And give no utterance to thy fears, / But bless me with thy word.
The lines are drawn! The fight is on!
A cause is to be won!
Mother, look not so white and wan;
Give Godspeed to thy son.
Now let thine eyes my way pursue / Where'er my footsteps fare;
And when they lead beyond thy view, / Send after me a prayer.
But pray not to defend from harm, / Nor danger to dispel;
Pray, rather, that with steadfast arm / I fight the battle well.
Pray, mother of mine, that I always keep / My heart and purpose strong, / My sword unsullied and ready to leap / Unsheathed against the wrong.