War Lyrics dedicated to the friends of the dead. By A. and L. Shore. Second edition, with additions |
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DEDICATION. |
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DEDICATION.
Oh! wives and mothers! sons and brothers,
And sisters of the dead!
And daughters, too, and fathers—who
Will not be comforted;
And sisters of the dead!
And daughters, too, and fathers—who
Will not be comforted;
Still feeling o'er and o'er again,
Yet warm, the last embrace—
Still seeing, though you saw not then,
For tears, the parting face!
Yet warm, the last embrace—
Still seeing, though you saw not then,
For tears, the parting face!
Still dreaming, as you oft will dream,
Your happy heroes home!
Still waking, as you oft will wake,
To know they will not come!
Your happy heroes home!
Still waking, as you oft will wake,
To know they will not come!
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Whether on Alma's banks they sleep,
Or Balaklava's side,
Or fell on Inkerman's dark steep,
Or in the trenches died,
Or Balaklava's side,
Or fell on Inkerman's dark steep,
Or in the trenches died,
Or, where the solemn Euxine waves
Talk to each silent guest,
Far, far down in the deep sea graves
We may not visit—rest,
Talk to each silent guest,
Far, far down in the deep sea graves
We may not visit—rest,
Or closed upon a patient bed,
More gently-wearied eyes—
We bless, oh mourners of the dead,
Your sacred sacrifice!
More gently-wearied eyes—
We bless, oh mourners of the dead,
Your sacred sacrifice!
We thank you sadly o'er and o'er,
For all you could, you gave—
We love you for the love you bore
Your own and England's brave—
For all you could, you gave—
We love you for the love you bore
Your own and England's brave—
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We drop upon their fun'ral pall
One rain of England's tears!
We sing one requiem for them all,
And every nation hears!
One rain of England's tears!
We sing one requiem for them all,
And every nation hears!
L. December, 1854.
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