Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LA CHARPIE, by RENE FRANCOIS ARMAND PRUDHOMME


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LA CHARPIE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A sombre night, a starless sky!
Last Line: For soldiers wounded in the war.
Alternate Author Name(s): Sully-prudhomme


A SOMBRE night, a starless sky!
Jeanne sits, her heart with weeping sore.
The cloth unwinding patiently
For soldiers wounded in the war.

Her lover to the war is gone:
His kiss yet fresh -- 'twas but to-day:
Her brothers too! She sits alone:
They marched with him this morn away.

Now booms more closely on her ears
The cannon's summons, stern and loud,
"Surrender! Famine!" Then she hears
Her City's "No" in answer proud.

Her holy task at last is o'er;
Has it not brought her spirit rest?
When suddenly her humble door
By timid hand is softly pressed.

A stranger girl is standing there
Within the door, her eyes as blue
As heaven, her features pale, her hair
Of gold, her dress of sombre hue.

And these her words: -- "Jeanne, have no fear,
The red cross on my arm I show;
My name and all that brings me here --
Oh, let me in! -- you soon shall know.

"At home they call me Margaret;
I've wandered from the banks of Rhine
For him on whom my heart is set:
Oh, let me in! Your grief is mine:

"By the same fears our hearts are torn;
Oh, by our youth, our love, our pain,
We're sisters now! leave hate and scorn
For deadly fight on yonder plain.

"Together we'll our charpie weave:
For blood knows naught of colors two;
Those grow alike who love and grieve:
We'll weep together, I and you!"

She, ere the words had left her lips,
The charpie threads asunder tore,
Working with trembling finger-tips
For soldiers wounded in the war.






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