The ghosts of innocent dead come out at night And march in endless ranks of leaden-gray; They spread across the world like some dread blight From Scotland to the walls of old Cathay. As thick as stars along the Milky Way, The ghosts of innocent dead come out at night: Their eyes have lost their dreams of yesterday And they implore us in the moon's pale light. So we who live are haunted by the might Of cruel war, for when we sleep or pray, The ghosts of innocent dead come out at night: And fill our minds with horror and dismay. We bravely swore to end the tyrant's sway But still we follow him in slavish fright, And since we made them vows which we betray, The ghosts of innocent dead come out at night. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A CHRISTMAS FOLKSONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR HUGH SELWYN MAUBERLEY: 8. BRENNBAUM by EZRA POUND THE OLD MEN ADMIRING THEMSELVES IN THE WATER by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS AGAMEMNON: HELEN. CHORUS by AESCHYLUS MISERABLE NIGHT by AVENELLE WILMETH BLAIR |