The Meeting (At The Student Meeting Of 1869)

(See Note 38)     Thoughts toward one another coursing      To their pole must run,     Hearts that meet, all bonds are forcing,      Like the springtime sun.     Though to-day too heavy sorrow      Dull the mind of youth,     Higher on the meeting's morrow      Roll the tides of truth.     Though each man with courage fired      Hundreds forward bore,     Though a thousand died inspired,      There is need of more.     May a Northern Spring come blowing      Over wood and field,     Wake the hundred thousands, knowing      Meeting-hour revealed!     Hail! A Northern day is written      In the brightening sky;     Darksome dread, that erst had smitten,      Flees, now dawn is nigh.     After Gjallar-horn blasts hollow,      Tears and shame and blood,     As so often, now shall follow      Full the spirit's flood.     In our people's life deep-seated      This is felt each day:     Who grows stronger when defeated,      Victor stands for aye.     Our Spring-meeting's fullness swells now,      Bearing prophecy     Of the Spring whose hope upwells now:      Hail, the Northern three!