Dirge For A Soldier
By George H. Boker (1823 - 1890) |
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Close his eyes; his work is
done!
What to him is friend or foeman,
Rise of moon,
or set of sun,
Hand of man, or kiss of woman?
Lay him
low, lay him low,
In the clover or the snow!
What
cares he? he can not know:
Lay him low!
As man
may, he fought his fight,
Proved his truth by his
endeavor;
Let him sleep in solemn night,
Sleep forever
and forever.
Lay him low, lay him low,
In the clover
or the snow!
What cares he? he can not know:
Lay him
low!
Fold him in his country's stars,
Roll the
drum and fire the volley!
What to him are all our wars,
What but death bemocking folly?
Lay him low, lay him low,
In the clover or the snow!
What cares he? he can not
know:
Lay him low!
Leave him to God's watching
eye,
Trust him to the hand that made him.
Mortal love
weeps idly by:
God alone has power to aid him,
Lay him
low, lay him low,
In the clover or the snow!
What
cares he? he can not know:
Lay him low! |
By
George H. Boker (1823 - 1890)
Listed August 5, 2012
Written in memory of General Philip Kearny,
killed at
Chantilly after he had ridden out in
advance of his men
to reconnoitre.
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