Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PARADE, by ESTHER RUSSELL


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PARADE, by                    
First Line: Out of step,' they said, as we marched along
Last Line: ... But how could they know that I marched with the dead?
Subject(s): Death; Fear; Marching & Marches; Soldiers; War; Dead, The


"Out of step," they said, as we marched along,
"Why can't he keep time to the swing of that song?"

It was not played by a city band
The last time we heard it, on NO MAN'S LAND ...
It was Jerry who sang it, our Jerry, the Lark,
To light up with music the heinous dark,
And Cap had chimed in at the high tenor part,
Our Cap ... who was only a private at heart!

"Out of step," they said, "he's lagging a bit!"
... I waited for Stub, ... that last shell had hit,
And Stub, the Jester, the Wit, and the Clown,
Had marched right along until he broke down
And begged us to go ... in a voice, strangely grim,
But Jerry and I ... well, we waited for him!

"Out of step," they said, "he can't time his feet!"
... That road was rough—and this clean, smooth, paved street
Resounded the words Blonde Jim would repeat,
"Eat, drink, and be merry ... Stub, Cap, and Jerry ...
Tomorrow we die ... And none to say why!"
... Blonde Jim, with his iron hat blown off,
(And the wind in his gold hair) .. Still trying to scoff!

"Out of step," they said, "he'll spoil the parade!"
... The band, and the crowd, and the street somehow fade,
And I march to a music that screams to the sky
As it's torn from the throats of the boys marching by
In a hopeless and pitiful, war-wasted cry,
"Oh, Father Above Us, we don't want to die,
Oh, God up in Heaven, WE DON'T WANT TO DIE!"

"Out of step, out of step," the spectators said,
... But how could they know that I marched with the DEAD?





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