O English mother, in the ruddy glow Hugging your baby closer when outside You see the silent, soft, and cruel snow Falling again, and think what ills betide Unshelter'd creatures, -- your sad thoughts may go Where War and Winter now, two spectre-wolves, Hunt in the freezing vapour that involves Those Asian peaks of ice and gulfs below. Does this young Soldier heed the snow that fills His mouth and open eyes? or mind, in truth, To-night, @3his@1 mother's parting syllables? Ha! is't red coat? -- Merely blood. Keep ruth For others; this is but an Afghan youth Shot by the stranger on his native hills. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BOTTLES AND THE WINE by GEORGE SANTAYANA THE CHIMNEY SWEEPER, FR. SONGS OF EXPERIENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE A NEW EARTH by WILLIAM ARTHUR DUNKERLEY SONG OF NATURE by RALPH WALDO EMERSON THE WATCH OF A SWAN by SARAH MORGAN BRYAN PIATT WAR AND WASHINGTON by JONATHAN MITCHELL SEWALL SONG OF THE BANNER AT DAY-BREAK by WALT WHITMAN |