Classic and Contemporary Poetry
OUR MARTYRED SOLDIERS, by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR Poet's Biography First Line: In homes all green, but cold in death Last Line: Than martyrs of which men can sing. Subject(s): Soldiers | ||||||||
In homes all green, but cold in death, Robbed of the blessed boon of breath -- Resting in peace from field and fray, Our martyred soldiers sleeping lay. Beneath the dew, the rain, the snow, They heed no more the bloody foe, Their sleep is calm, to them alone 'Tis giv'n to lie without a moan. The sun may shine in all his might -- They know no day, they know no night, But wait a still more lasting ray, The coming of eternal day. No longer marches break their rest, Or passioned hate thrills through the breast, They lie all clothed in calm repose, All safe from shots of lurking foes. The grave's a sacred place where none Of earth may touch the sleeping one; Where silence reigns, enthroned, sedate, An angel guarding heaven's gate. The wind may blow, the hail may fall, But at the tomb is silence all; Man finds no nobler place to pray, Then o'er a martyr's lifeless clay. Sleep on, ye soldiers, men of God, A nation's tears bedew the sod; 'Tis but a short, short time till ye Shall through the shining portals flee. And when this memory lost shall be, We turn, oh Father, God, to thee! Oh find in heaven some nobler thing Than martyrs of which men can sing. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ALL ARMIES ARE THE SAME by ERNEST HEMINGWAY ABSENT WITH OFFICIAL LEAVE by RANDALL JARRELL PORT OF EMBARKATION by RANDALL JARRELL THE CONFESSION OF ST. JIM-RALPH by DENIS JOHNSON OPERATION MEMORY by DAVID LEHMAN A BANJO SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR |
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