Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SHILOH; A REQUIEM, by HERMAN MELVILLE


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SHILOH; A REQUIEM, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Skimming lightly, wheeling still
Last Line: And all is hushed at shiloh.
Subject(s): American Civil War; Patriotism; Shiloh, Battle Of (1862); United States - History


Skimming lightly, wheeling still,
The swallows fly low
Over the field in clouded days,
The forest-field of Shiloh --
Over the field where April rain
Solaced the parched ones stretched in pain
Through the pause of night
That followed the Sunday fight
Around the church of Shiloh --
The church so lone, the log-built one,
That echoed to many a parting groan
And natural prayer
Of dying foemen mingled there --
Foemen at morn, but friends at eve --
Fame or country least their care:
(What like a bullet can undeceive!)
But now they lie low,
While over them the swallows skim,
And all is hushed at Shiloh.







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