Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE ABSENT BOY, by MARGARET ELIZABETH MUNSON SANGSTER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE ABSENT BOY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: They miss him in the orchard, where the fruit is sunning over
Last Line: For somewhere in the thick of strife they know their boy is there
Alternate Author Name(s): Van Deth, Gerrit, Mrs.
Subject(s): Absence; Army - United States; Unknown Soldier; War; Separation; Isolation


THEY miss him in the orchard, where the fruit is sunning over,
And in the meadow where the air is sweet with new-mown hay,
And all about the old farm which knew him for a lover,
From the early seedtime onward till the crops were piled away.

They miss him in the village where nothing went without him,
Where to-day the young folks' parties are dull and incomplete.
They cannot just explain it, there was such a charm about him,
The drop of cheer he always brought made common daylight sweet.

And now he's gone to Cuba, he's fighting for the nation,
He's charging with the others, a lad in army blue.
His name is little known yet, but at the upland station
They all are sure you'll hear it before the war is through.

And when you talk of battles, and scan the printed column,
His regiment's the one they seek, his neighbors think and care;
The more they do not speak of it their look grows grave and solemn,
For somewhere in the thick of strife they know their boy is there





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