Stedman and Hutchinson, comps. A Library of American Literature:
An Anthology in Eleven Volumes. 1891.
Vols. IX–XI: Literature of the Republic, Part IV., 1861–1889
The Watch-Fire
By Titus Munson Coan (1836–1921)M
All the day long; nor through the hours of light
Can any foe my constant footing fright,
Although I fare alone and weaponless:
But when deep shadows fall, and lay their stress
Upon me, and giant creatures glare in sight,
The panther Terror, leaping from the night,
The fiery-eyed soft-pacing lioness,—
How guard the pilgrim then, and compass him,
And beat Abaddon from him, in the hour
When age o’ertakes him in the desert dim?
The flame of Poesy shall fling a shower
Of guarding radiance—and the monsters grim
Shall flee the spot protected by its power!
The Century Magazine. 1888.