Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MOURN FOR THE BRAVE, by DAVID MACBETH MOIR


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MOURN FOR THE BRAVE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Oh, mourn for the brave
Last Line: Upon the battle-plain!
Alternate Author Name(s): Delta
Subject(s): Courage; Death; Heroism; Mourning; Soldiers; Valor; Bravery; Dead, The; Heroes; Heroines; Bereavement


I.

OH, mourn for the brave,
Who have fought for us, have bled for us;
Oh, mourn for the brave,
Who lie low among the slain!
For us they left their native land,
To meet the foe on foreign strand;
For us they struggled sword in hand;
And fought for us, and bled for us;
But now they sleep
In silence deep,
Upon the battle-plain!

II

Dear were their homes to them,
Who fought for us, who bled for us;
Dear were their homes to them,
We ne'er shall see again!
But, at their country's call, they took
And turned to sword the pruning-hook;
A foeman's bonds they could not brook,
Who fought for us, who bled for us;
And now they sleep
In silence deep,
Upon the battle-plain!

III.

Deep is our debt to them,
Who fought for us, who bled for us;
Deep is our debt to them,
For us who crossed the main!
They gave our hills their golden fleece,
They gave our plains their rich increase,
To them we owe the ark of peace—
Who fought for us, who bled for us;
Though now they sleep
In silence deep,
Upon the battle-plain!

IV.

Then shout for the brave,
Who have fought for us, have bled for us;
Then shout for the brave,
Who poured out their blood like rain!
Their deeds shall every tongue engage;
Their names are writ on History's page;
And age shall proudly tell to age,
Who fought for us, who bled for us;
Though now they sleep,
In silence deep,
Upon the battle-plain!





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