Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE DRUMMER BOY, by ANONYMOUS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE DRUMMER BOY, by                    
First Line: "captain gray, the men were sayin'"
Last Line: Unbroken by the night's tattoo
Subject(s): Boys;drums;musical Instruments;soldiers


"CAPTAIN GRAY, the men were sayin'
Ye would want a drummer lad,
So I've brought my boy Sandie,
Tho' my heart is woful sad;
But nae bread is left to feed us,
And nae siller to buy more,
For the gudeman sleeps forever
Where the heather blossoms o'er.

Sandie, make your manners quickly,
Play your blithest measure true—
Gie us 'Flowers of Edinboro','
While yon fifer plays it too.
Captain, heard ye e'er a player
Strike in truer time than he?"
"Nay, in truth, brave Sandie Murray
Drummer of our corps shall be."

"I give ye thanks—but, Captain, maybe
Ye will hae a kindly care
For the friendless, lonely laddie,
When the battle's wark is sair;
For Sandie's aye been good and gentle,
And I've nothing else to love,
Nothing—but the grave off yonder,
And the father up above."

Then, her rough hand gently laying
On the curl-encircled head,
She blessed her boy. The tent was silent,
And not another word was said;
For Captain Gray was sadly dreaming
Of a benison, long ago,
Breathed above his head, then golden,
Bending now and touched with snow.

"Good-by, Sandie." "Good-by, mother,
I'll come back some Summer day;
Don't you fear—they don't shoot drummers
Ever. Do they, Captain Gray?
One more kiss—watch for me, mother,
You will know 'tis surely me
Coming home—for you will hear me
Playing soft the reveille."

After battle. Moonbeams ghastly
Seemed to link in strange affright,
As the scudding clouds before them
Shadowed faces dead and white;
And the night wind softly whispered,
When low moans its light wing bore—
Moans that ferried spirits over
Death's dark wave to yonder shore.

Wandering where a footstep careless
Might go splashing down in blood,
Or a helpless hand lie grasping
Death and daisies from the sod—
Captain Gray walked swiftly onward,
While a faintly beating drum
Quickened heart and step together:
"Sandie Murray! See, I come!

Is it thus I find you, laddie?
Wounded, lonely, lying here,
Playing thus the reveille?
See—the morning is not near."
A moment paused the drummer-boy,
And lifted up his drooping head:
"Oh, Captain Gray, the light is coming,
'Tis morning, and my prayers are said.

Morning! See, the plains grow brighter—
Morning—and I'm going home;
That is why I play the measure;
Mother will not see me come;
But you'll tell her, wont you, Captain—?"
Hush, the boy has spoken true;
To him the day has dawned forever,
Unbroken by the night's tattoo.





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