Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE DEAD SOLDIER-POET, by ALBERT JOSEPH HEIL


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE DEAD SOLDIER-POET, by                    
First Line: What cared this dreamer for a boundary line?
Last Line: The mind! The mind is lord of all that is!
Subject(s): Victory


What cared this dreamer for a boundary line?
For oathful vengeance, or a king's hurt pride?
For itching greed that breeds the wars of earth?
No confine checked his fancy's daring steed;
No folly-fostered hate has roused his arm!
To him this orb a fuming madhouse, where
Men curse and froth, o'erloaded with conceits.
No heart had he for butch'ring his own kind;
No mind to bring down curses on his head,
Or dig long graves to lay the fallen in;
Or start a widow on her course of tears,
Or cause a sweetheart's swoon, an orphan's wail;
Or yoke an aged parent with slow grief,
Or train a shell to tear God's temples down,
Or lead the demons, Rape and Havoc -- out
From brimstoned hell -- or hear the cocky shout
Of bloodstained victory! Ah! Deeds like these
To him nor sense nor yet advantage showed.
His world, Concordia! Wherein all things
In one sublimest canticle chime in;
Like dream-bells calling to the lakes; a scene
Where creatures play in lasting Paradise --
A long, gay childhood knowing not of strife;
Where busy stars roll through the vault above,
Tuned by great God, Himself; like minstrels free,
Still thrumming down eternity, a song
That soothes the ear of rapt infinity!
The Mind! The Mind is Lord of all that is!





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