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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
KILLED IN ACTION, by ISABEL ECCLESTONE MACKAY Poet's Biography
First Line: My father lived his three-score years, my son
Last Line: Who shall declare which gift conveyed the greater heritage?
Subject(s): Death; Military; Soldiers; War; Dead, The
First Line: My father lived his three-score years, my son
Last Line: Who shall declare which gift conveyed the greater heritage?
Subject(s): Death; Military; Soldiers; War; Dead, The
MY father lived his three-score years; my son lived twenty-two;
One looked long back on work well done, and one had all to do—
Yet which the better served his world, I know not, nor do you!
Life taught my father all her lore till he grew wise and gray,
She did but whisper to my son before she turned away—
Yet which her deepest secret held only they two might say.
Peace brought my father restful days, with love and fame for wage;
War gave my son an unmarked grave and an unwritten page—
Who shall declare which gift conveyed the greater heritage?
Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!
Other Poems of Interest...
A FRIEND KILLED IN THE WAR by ANTHONY HECHT
FOR JAMES MERRILL: AN ADIEU by ANTHONY HECHT
TARANTULA: OR THE DANCE OF DEATH by ANTHONY HECHT
CHAMPS D?ÇÖHONNEUR by ERNEST HEMINGWAY
NOTE TO REALITY by TONY HOAGLAND
A CHRISTMAS CHILD by ISABEL ECCLESTONE MACKAY