 | Leaves of grass. |  |
DIRGE FOR TWO VETERANS.
1
THE last
sunbeam
Lightly falls from the finish'd Sabbath,
On the pavement here — and there beyond, it is looking, Down a new-made double grave.
Lightly falls from the finish'd Sabbath,
On the pavement here — and there beyond, it is looking, Down a new-made double grave.
2
Lo! the moon
ascending!
Up from the east, the silvery round moon;
Beautiful over the house-tops, ghastly, phantom moon; Immense and silent moon.
Up from the east, the silvery round moon;
Beautiful over the house-tops, ghastly, phantom moon; Immense and silent moon.
3
I see a sad
procession,
And I hear the sound of coming full-key'd bugles;
All the channels of the city streets they're flooding, As with voices and with tears.
And I hear the sound of coming full-key'd bugles;
All the channels of the city streets they're flooding, As with voices and with tears.
4
I hear the great
drums pounding,
And the small drums steady whirring;
And every blow of the great convulsive drums, Strikes me through and through.
And the small drums steady whirring;
And every blow of the great convulsive drums, Strikes me through and through.
5
For the son is
brought with the father;
(In the foremost ranks of the fierce assault they fell;
Two veterans, son and father, dropt together, And the double grave awaits them.)
(In the foremost ranks of the fierce assault they fell;
Two veterans, son and father, dropt together, And the double grave awaits them.)
6
Now nearer blow the
bugles,
And the drums strike more convulsive;
And the day-light o'er the pavement quite has faded, And the strong dead-march enwraps me.
And the drums strike more convulsive;
And the day-light o'er the pavement quite has faded, And the strong dead-march enwraps me.
22b
7
In the eastern sky up-buoying,
The sorrowful vast phantom moves illumin'd;
('T is some mother's large, transparent face, In heaven brighter growing.)
The sorrowful vast phantom moves illumin'd;
('T is some mother's large, transparent face, In heaven brighter growing.)
8
O strong dead-march, you please me!
O moon immense, with your silvery face you soothe me!
O my soldiers twain! O my veterans, passing to burial! What I have I also give you.
O moon immense, with your silvery face you soothe me!
O my soldiers twain! O my veterans, passing to burial! What I have I also give you.
9
The moon gives you light,
And the bugles and the drums give you music;
And my heart, O my soldiers, my veterans, My heart gives you love.
And the bugles and the drums give you music;
And my heart, O my soldiers, my veterans, My heart gives you love.
| Leaves of grass. | |