'Tell us, O Watchman, tell us of the Night! <br />What tidings from the world's high parapet?' <br />'There is no pausing nor cessation yet <br />Where the lords gather and the legions fight. <br />Mars in his House of Blood hath sovran light <br />Above the ashes of a Day long set, <br />And with his scarlet dew the land is wet, <br />And the red stars gaze with despotic sight.' <br /> <br />So rang the message that they bent to hark, <br />As from his height the western Sentinel <br />Beheld the Signs malignant hit their place, <br />And heard beyond the horizon of the dark <br />The solemn sound of cannon., as tho Hell <br />Tolled forth the doom and burial of the race.<br /><br />George Sterling<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/before-dawn-ce/
