WOE, he went galloping into the war, Clara, Clara! Let us two dream: shall he 'scape with a scar? Scarcely disfigurement, rather a grace Making for manhood which nowise we mar: See, while I kiss it, the flush on his face -- Rosny, Rosny! Light does he laugh: "With your love in my soul" -- (Clara, Clara!) "How could I other than -- sound, safe, and whole -- Cleave who opposed me asunder, yet stand Scatheless beside you, as, touching love's goal, Who won the race kneels, craves reward at your hand -- Rosny, Rosny?" Ay, but if certain who envied should see! Clara, Clara, Certain who simper: "The hero for me Hardly of life were so chary as miss Death -- death and fame -- that's love's guerdon when She Boasts, proud bereaved one, her choice fell on this Rosny, Rosny!" So, -- go on dreaming, -- he lies mid a heap (Clara, Clara,) Of the slain by his hand: what is death but a sleep? Dead, with my portrait displayed on his breast: Love wrought his undoing: "No prudence could keep The love-maddened wretch from his fate." That is best, Rosny, Rosny! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BEST [THING IN THE WORLD] by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING SACRIFICE by RALPH WALDO EMERSON A WHITE ROSE by JOHN BOYLE O'REILLY A SUPPLEMENT OF AN IMPERFECT COPY OF VERSES OF MR. WILL. SHAKESPEARE'S by JOHN SUCKLING I SHALL NOT CARE by SARA TEASDALE A MARTYR'S MASS; FATHER MIGUEL PRO, EXECUTED AY MEXICO CITY, 1927 by ALFRED BARRETT |