Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE SOLDIER'S DREAM by THOMAS CAMPBELL

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

First Line: OUR BUGLES SANG TRUCE, - FOR THE NIGHT-CLOUD HAD LOWERED
Last Line: AND THE VOICE IN MY DREAMING EAR MELTED AWAY.
Subject(s): DREAMS; HOME; SOLDIERS; WAR; NIGHTMARES;
OUR bugles sang truce, -- for the night-cloud had
lowered,
And the sentinel stars set their watch in the
sky;
And thousands had sunk on the ground over-
powered,
The weary to sleep, and the wounded to die.
When reposing that night on my pallet of straw.
By the wolf-scaring fagot that guarded the
slain;
At the dead of the night a sweet vision I saw,
And thrice ere the morning I dreamt it again.
Methought from the battle-field's dreadful array,
Far, far I had roamed on a desolate track:
'T was autumn, -- and sunshine arose on the way
To the home of my fathers, that welcomed me
back.
I flew to the pleasant flelds traversed so oft
In life's morning march, when my bosom was
young;
I heard my own mountain-goats bleating aloft,
And knew the sweet strain that the corn reapers
sung.
Then pledged we the wine-cup, and fondly I
swore,
From my home and my weeping friends never
to part;
My little ones kissed me a thousand times o'er,
And my wife sobbed aloud in her fulness of
heart.
"Stay, stay with us, -- rest, thou art weary and
worn;"
And fain was their war-broken soldier to
stay; --
But sorrow returned with the dawning of morn,
And the voice in my dreaming ear melted away.


Home: PoetryExplorer.net