How solemn as one by one, As the ranks returning worn and sweaty, as the men file by where I stand, As the faces the masks appear, as I glance at the faces studying the masks, (As I glance upward out of this page studying you, dear friend, whoever you are,) How solemn the thought of my whispering soul to each in the ranks, and to you! I see behind each mask that wonder a kindred soul, O the bullet could never kill what you really are, dear friend, Nor the bayonet stab what you really are; The soul! yourself I see, great as any, good as the best, Waiting secure and content, which the bullet could never kill, Nor the bayonet stab O friend. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE FLOWER OF FINAE by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS WHEN ALL IS DONE by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR THE INDIAN BURYING GROUND by PHILIP FRENEAU THE OLD CLOCK ON THE STAIRS by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW LINES TO A BEAUTIFUL AND BUS-RIDING LADY by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS |