Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE OLD SOLDIER, by KATHARINE TYNAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE OLD SOLDIER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Lest the young soldiers be strange in heaven
Last Line: Waiting to welcome them by the strange door.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hinkson, Katharine Tynan
Subject(s): Death; Heaven; Holidays; Veterans Day; World War I - Casualties; Dead, The; Paradise


LEST the young soldiers be strange in heaven,
God bids the old soldier they all adored
Come to Him and wait for them, clean, new-shriven,
A happy doorkeeper in the House of the Lord.

Lest it abash them, the strange new splendour,
Lest it affright them, the new robes clean;
Here's an old face, now, long-tried, and tender,
A word and a hand-clasp as they troop in.

"My boys," he greets them: and heaven is homely,
He their great captain in days gone o'er;
Dear is the friend's face, honest and comely,
Waiting to welcome them by the strange door.





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