Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A SOLDIER'S WAKE; 1856, by TIMOTHY DANIEL (DONILL) SULLIVAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A SOLDIER'S WAKE; 1856, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: And this is all she has to lay
Last Line: And then--shall deck another wake.
Alternate Author Name(s): Sullivan, Timothy Daniel
Subject(s): Wakes


And this is all she has to lay
To-night upon the snowy sheets,
Before the friends who come the way,
And sighing take their humble seats--
This medal, bravely, dearly won,
Poor token of her gallant son.

But over this, as nought beside
Of him she loved to her remains,
The lights are lit, the keen is cried,
And women croon their saddest strains,
While men who knew his boyhood well,
Say, foes went down before he fell.

These clasps and medal; only these!
For this she nursed and loved him long,
She rocked him softly on her knees,
And filled his ears with pleasant song,
And saw him with a mother's pride,
Grow up and strengthen by her side.

Till bright with manhood's glowing charms
He in his turn her nurse became,
He clasped her in his manly arms,
And fondly propped her drooping frame.
Her step grew weak, her eye grew dim,
But then she lived and moved in him.

He went; he joined the deadly fight,
His true heart loved her not the less;
But these are all she has to-night
To light and cheer her loneliness--
These silver honours, dearly won,
Poor tokens of her gallant son.

But even these, to-morrow morn
When lights burn out and friends depart,
Shall round her withered neck be worn,
Shall lie upon her weary heart
Till death, for his dear memory's sake,
And then--shall deck another wake.





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