Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, RELIEVING GUARD, by FRANCIS BRET HARTE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

RELIEVING GUARD, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Came the relief. 'what, sentry, ho!'
Last Line: "somewhere had just relieved a picket."
Alternate Author Name(s): Harte, Bret
Subject(s): American Civil War; United States - History


CAME the Relief. "What, Sentry, ho!
How passed the night through thy long waking?"
"Cold, cheerless, dark, -- as may befit
The hour before the dawn is breaking."

"No sight? no sound?" "No; nothing save
The plover from the marshes calling,
And in yon Western sky, about
An hour ago, a Star was falling."

"A star? There's nothing strange in that."
"No, nothing; but, above the thicket,
Somehow it seemed to me that God
Somewhere had just relieved a picket."





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