"I hate them all!" said old Gaspard, And in his weather-beaten face The lines of bitterness grew hard For he had seen his dwelling-place Laid waste in very wantonness And all his little treasures flung Into that never-sated press From which no wine, but gall, had sprung— And not his heart alone was sore, For in his frail old limbs he bore Wounds of the heavy ruthless hand That weighed so cruelly of late Upon the people and the land. It was not hard to understand Who old Gaspard should hate, Even the German lad who lay His neighbor in the hospital, The boy who pleaded, night and day, "Don't let me die! Don't let me die! When I see the dawn, I know I shall live out that day, and then I'm not afraid ... till dark ... but oh, How soon the night comes round again! Don't let me die! Don't let me die!" The old man muttered at each low, Pitiful, half-delirious cry, "They should die, had I the say, In Hell's own torment, one and all!" And then would drag himself away Despite each motion's agony To where the wounded poilus lay To cheer them with his mimicry Of barnyard noises and his gay Old songs of what life used to be. One night the lad suddenly cried "Mother!" And though the sister knew, He was so young, so terrified, "You're safe—the east is light," she lied. But "No!" he sobbed. "The cock must crow Before the dawn—" They did not hear A cripple crawl across the floor. But all at once, outside the door Within the courtyard, strong and clear Once, twice and thrice, crew chanticleer. The blue eyes closed, and the boy sighed "I'm not afraid, now day's begun. I'll live ... till ..." with a smile, he died. And in that hour when he denied The god of hate, I think that One Passed through the hospital's dark yard And turning, looked on old Gaspard. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HIS RETURN TO LONDON by ROBERT HERRICK A BALLAD OF LONDON (TO H.W. MASSINGHAM) by RICHARD THOMAS LE GALLIENNE THE RECONCILEMENT by JOHN SHEFFIELD MARGARET'S SONG by LASCELLES ABERCROMBIE THE HIRED MAN by EVA K. ANGLESBURG |