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Poems Real and Ideal

By George Barlow

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 XIV. 
 XVII. 
 XIX. 
 XXI. 
 XXII. 
 XXIII. 
 XXVII. 
 XXVIII. 
 XXIX. 
 XXX. 
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 III. 
 XLVII. 
 LI. 
 LIV. 
 LVII. 
 LIX. 
  
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 IV. 
  
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 VII. 
  
  
  
  
  
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 XX. 
 XXI. 
  
  
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 I. 
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 IX. 
 XII. 
 XXII. 
XXII. AT LAST.
  
  
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354

XXII. AT LAST.

I heard a voice that said: “The time has come.
Let the whole line of bayonet-points advance”.—
I looked around the field with one last glance,
And saw once more a blackberry-hedge in bloom.
And then through curdled smoke and powdery gloom
I saw the quick fires round the cannons dance,
And saw wild pennons wave from many a lance,
And saw strange helmets flash and mad steeds loom.
I drew my sword ere that great final sound
“Let the whole line advance” had fully past,
Tightened my sword-belt, and drew in my breath.
Then as the red line with a giant bound
Plunged after me, my whole soul laughed at last.—
And this was life supreme,—and this was death.
Dec. 30, 1883.