Valete Tennyson and other Memorial Poems by H. D. Rawnsley |
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After the Epilogue to the Charge of the Heavy Brigade.
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24
After the Epilogue to the Charge of the Heavy Brigade.
When thrushes called between the day and night,
And you clomb up the down toward the stars,
My heart went with you, for the thoughtful bars
Of that last music had possessed me quite.
True seer, I cried, you have delivered right
The only message that, to heal our scars,
Unriddling these dread necessary wars,
Can crown with song the soldier's deed of might.
And you clomb up the down toward the stars,
My heart went with you, for the thoughtful bars
Of that last music had possessed me quite.
True seer, I cried, you have delivered right
The only message that, to heal our scars,
Unriddling these dread necessary wars,
Can crown with song the soldier's deed of might.
For till these bastions crumble with the frost,
Or earth shall meet the sun and melt in fire,
Some new-won land shall court the jealous eye,
Some voice shall startle lust and tyranny,
Some heart refuse to own the battle lost,
Some patriot find in death his soul's desire.
Or earth shall meet the sun and melt in fire,
Some new-won land shall court the jealous eye,
Some voice shall startle lust and tyranny,
Some heart refuse to own the battle lost,
Some patriot find in death his soul's desire.
| Valete | |