Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE COAT OF FADED GRAY, by GEORGE WASHINGTON HARRIS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE COAT OF FADED GRAY, by                    
First Line: A low hut rests in lookout's shade
Last Line: Her soldier's coat of faded gray.
Alternate Author Name(s): Harris, G. W.
Subject(s): American Civil War; United States - History


A low hut rest in Look out's shade
As rots its moss-grown roof away,
While sun down's glories softly fade,
Closing another weary day;
The battle's din is heard no more --
No more the hunted stand at bay --
The breeze through the lowly door
Swing mute a coat of faded grey,
A tatter'd relic of the fray --
A threadbare coat of faded gray.

"Tis hanging on the rough log wall
Near to the foot of a widow's bed,
By a white plume and well-worn shawl --
His gift -- the happy morn they wed,
By the wee slip their dead child wore --
The one they gave the name of May,
By her rag doll and pinafore --
By right it's there, that coat of gray,
A red fleck'd relic of the fray --
An armless coat of faded grey.

Her all of life now drapes that wall,
Poor and patient still she waits
On God's good time to gently call
Her, too, within the jewel'd gates;
And all she craves is here to die --
To part from these, and pass away,
To join her loves eternally
That wore the slip -- the coat of grey,
The shell-torn relic of the fray --
Her soldier's coat of faded gray.





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