Analysis of Foreign Missions in Battle Array

Vachel Lindsay 1879 (Springfield) – 1931 (Springfield)



An endless line of splendor,
These troops with heaven for home,
With creeds they go from Scotland,
With incense go from Rome.
These, in the name of Jesus,
Against the dark gods stand,
They gird the earth with valor,
They heed their King's command.

Onward the line advances,
Shaking the hills with power,
Slaying the hidden demons,
The lions that devour.
No bloodshed in the wrestling, —
But souls new-born arise —
The nations growing kinder,
The child-hearts growing wise.

What is the final ending?
The issue, can we know?
Will Christ outlive Mohammed?
Will Kali's altar go?
This is our faith tremendous, —
Our wild hope, who shall scorn, —
That in the name of Jesus
The world shall be reborn!


Scheme ABXBCDAD XAXAEFAF EGXGCHCH
Poetic Form
Metre 1101110 1111011 1111110 101111 1001110 010111 1101110 111101 1001010 1001110 1001010 0101010 110010 111101 0101010 011101 1101010 010111 111010 11101 11101010 1011111 1001110 011111
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 709
Words 124
Sentences 10
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 8, 8, 8
Lines Amount 24
Letters per line (avg) 22
Words per line (avg) 5
Letters per stanza (avg) 180
Words per stanza (avg) 41
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

37 sec read
93

Vachel Lindsay

Nicholas Vachel Lindsay was an American poet. more…

All Vachel Lindsay poems | Vachel Lindsay Books

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