The Bravest Battle

The bravest battle that ever was fought;
Shall I tell you where and when?
On the maps of the world you will find it not;
It was fought by the mothers of men.

Nay, not with cannon or battle shot,
With sword or braver pen;
Nay, not with eloquent word or thought,
From mouths of wonderful men,

But deep in a woman’s walled-up heart –
Of woman that would not yield,

But patiently, silently bore her part –
Lo! There in that battlefield.

No marshaling troop, no bivouac song; 
No banner to gleam and wave;
And oh! these battles they last so long — 
From babyhood to the grave!

Yet, faithful still as a bridge of stars, 
She fights in her walled-up town –
Fights on and on in the endless wars, 
Then silent, unseen — goes down.

By Joaquin Miller.