A UTILITARIAN VIEW OF THE MONITOR'S FLIGHT

Plain be the phrase, yet apt the verse,
   More ponderous than nimble;
For since grimed War here laid aside
His Orient pomp, 'twould ill befit
      Overmuch to ply
   The rhyme's barbaric cymbal.

Hail to victory without the gaud
   Of glory; zeal that needs no fans
Of banners; plain mechanic power
Plied cogently in War now placed--
      Where War belongs--
   Among the trades and artisans.

Yet this was battle, and intense--
   Beyond the strife of fleets heroic;
Deadlier, closer, calm 'mid storm;
No passion; all went on by crank,
      Pivot, and screw,
   And calculations of caloric.

Needless to dwell; the story's known.
   The ringing of those plates on plates
Still ringeth around the world--
The clangor of that blacksmith's fray.
      The anvil-din
Resounds this message from the Fates:

War shall yet be, and to the end;
   But war-paints show the streaks of weather;
War yet shall be, but warriors
Are now but operatives; War's made
      Less grand than Peace,
   And a singe runs through lace and feather.


HERMAN MELVILLE