1
BEAT! beat! drums!—Blow! bugles! blow! | |
| Through the windows—through doors—burst like a ruthless force, | |
| Into the solemn church, and scatter the congregation; | |
| Into the school where the scholar is studying; | |
| Leave not the bridegroom quiet—no happiness must he have now with his bride; | 5 |
| Nor the peaceful farmer any peace, plowing his field or gathering his grain; | |
| So fierce you whirr and pound, you drums—so shrill you bugles blow. | |
| |
2
Beat! beat! drums!—Blow! bugles! blow! | |
| Over the traffic of cities—over the rumble of wheels in the streets: | |
| Are beds prepared for sleepers at night in the houses? No sleepers must sleep in those beds; | 10 |
| No bargainers’ bargains by day—no brokers or speculators—Would they continue? | |
| Would the talkers be talking? would the singer attempt to sing? | |
| Would the lawyer rise in the court to state his case before the judge? | |
| Then rattle quicker, heavier drums—you bugles wilder blow. | |
| |
3
Beat! beat! drums!—Blow! bugles! blow! | 15 |
| Make no parley—stop for no expostulation; | |
| Mind not the timid—mind not the weeper or prayer; | |
| Mind not the old man beseeching the young man; | |
| Let not the child’s voice be heard, nor the mother’s entreaties; | |
| Make even the trestles to shake the dead, where they lie awaiting the hearses, | 20 |
| So strong you thump, O terrible drums—so loud you bugles blow. | |
