ALONE through gloomy forest-shades A soldier went by night; No moonbeam pierced the dusky glades, No star shed guiding light. Yet on his vigil's midnight round The youth all cheerly passed; Unchecked by aught of boding sound That muttered in the blast. Where were his thoughts that lonely hour? -- In his far home, perchance; His father's hall, his mother's bower, Midst the gay vines of France: Wandering from battles lost and won, To hear and bless again The rolling of the wide Garonne, Or murmur of the Seine. Hush! hark! -- did stealing steps go by? Came not faint whispers near? No! the wild wind hath many a sigh, Amidst the foliage sere. Hark, yet again! -- and from his hand, What grasp hath wrenched the blade? -- Oh, single midst a hostile band, Young soldier! thou'rt betrayed! "Silence!" in under-tones they cry -- "No whisper -- not a breath! The sound that warns thy comrades nigh Shall sentence thee to death." Still, at the bayonet's point he stood, And strong to meet the blow; And shouted, midst his rushing blood, "Arm, arm, Auvergne! the foe!" The stir, the tramp, the bugle-call -- He heard their tumults grow; And sent his dying voice through all -- @3"Auvergne, Auvergne! the foe!"@1 | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PETER QUINCE AT THE CLAVIER by WALLACE STEVENS CAROLINA [JANUARY, 1865] by HENRY TIMROD SONG by MARGARET STEELE ANDERSON THE GREAT BLACK CROW by PHILIP JAMES BAILEY THE FOUNTAIN OF PITY by HENRY BATAILLE BRITANNIA'S PASTORALS: BOOK 1. THE FOURTH SONG by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) |