Ye dead and gone great armies of the world, Sweet gleam the fields where ye were used to pass, With Death for leader, legioned like the grass, Day after day by dews of morning pearled. Ye dead and gone great armies, ye were hurled 'Gainst other armies, great and dead and gone, In awful dark: ye died before the dawn, Ne'er knowing how your flags in peace are furled! Ye are the tall fair forests that were felled To build a pyre for strife that it might cease; Ye are the white lambs slaughtered to bring peace; Ye are the sweet ships sunk that storm be quelled; And ye are lilies plucked and set like stars About the blood-stained shrine of bygone wars! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IN TENEBRIS: 2 by THOMAS HARDY MEZZO CAMMIN by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE CRADLE SONG OF THE POOR by ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER SONNET: 5 by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE FOR THE INAUGURATION OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL, CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY by WALT WHITMAN THE ETERNAL GOODNESS by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER |