UPON the hill he turn'd To take a last fond look Of the valley and the village church And the cottage by the brook; He listen'd to the sounds, So familiar to his ear, And the soldier leant upon his sword, And wiped away a tear. Beside that cottage porch A girl was on her knees, She held aloft a snowy scarf, Which flutter'd in the breeze; She breath'd a prayer for him, A prayer he could not hear, But he paused to bless her, as she knelt, And wiped away a tear. He turn'd and left the spot, Oh, do not deem him weak; For dauntless was the soldier's heart, Though tears were on his cheek; Go watch the foremost rank In danger's dark career, Be sure the hand most daring there Has wiped away a tear. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FAREWELL TO CYNTHIA by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS ODES: BOOK 1: ODE 16. TO CALEB HARDINGE, M.D. by MARK AKENSIDE BACCHANALIA; OR, THE NEW AGE by MATTHEW ARNOLD SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 4. THE OLD VALLEY by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) FACING AN HOUR-GLASS by ELFRIDA DE RENNE BARROW |