Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SADDER THAN WAR, by BELLE RICHARDSON HARRISON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SADDER THAN WAR, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A soldier, though way-worn and weary
Last Line: While his own remained ragged and torn.
Subject(s): Soldiers; War


A SOLDIER, though way-worn and weary
From the tiresome march of the day,
Steadily toils till the wee sma' hours,
Painfully stitching away.

His thoughts are with Nell and the children,
As his needle he patiently plies,
Darning great rents in his trousers,
While tear drops are dimming his eyes.

His comrades are sleeping around him
And peacefully dreaming of home,
Of the time when the war will be ended
And no longer they sadly will roam.

He nods, keeping time with his needle
That sailor-like goes in and out,
And the rents in the trousers are mended
When he hears a far sentinel shout.

"To arms, boys, the foe is advancing!"
The soldiers respond to the call.
In a twinkling the camp is confusion,
As they hasten to conquer or fall.

"Howly Moses, my breeches, who's got 'em?"
Swears Mike, at the vexing delay,
"Arrah, here's the spalpeen I'm afther,"
And jerks the darned trousers away.

Ah, sadder than war is the story—
That soldier so weary and worn,
Had mended the Corporal's trousers,
While his own remained ragged and torn.





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