Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE LITTLE STONES; REMEMBERING A SIGHT OF ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETARY, by BARBARA YOUNG First Line: I saw them shining in the sun Last Line: And no more stones in arlington. Subject(s): Arlington National Cemetery; Death; Social Protest; Soldiers; Unknown Soldier; War; Dead, The | ||||||||
I saw them shining in the sun, The little stones of Arlington; The endless rows of snowy stones, As cold as death, as white as bones. My eyes went counting, and I said: "Here lies a world of early dead; A buried world of light and love. And who shall count the cost thereof?" I saw strange shapes that seemed to pass Like ghosts upon the early grass, Like spectres marching, one by one, The little stones of Arlington. I heard a fife; I heard a drum. I heard a bugle calling "Come!" A thousand thousand soundless feet Went tramping down a ghostly street. A thousand thousand restless heads Were lifted from their earthy beds; And blood flowed out; I saw it run Upon the stones of Arlington. A thousand thousand tortured eyes Looked up unto the silent skies; And to my ears there came a sound Of voices from the silent ground. "It is not meet that men should die With fire and sword," the dead men cry. "The bitter price is paid in vain. Peace is not bought with dead men slain." I heard the words like clanging bells, I saw the battles and the hells, The rainy roads, the darkened sun. I saw the stones of Arlington. Tomorrow bits of silk will wave Above the grass on every grave, And blossoms plucked and borne with love. And who shall count the cost thereof? It is enough. Let men no more Spill blood of men on any shore; Nor smoke of battle cloud the sun; And no more stones in Arlington. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A FRIEND KILLED IN THE WAR by ANTHONY HECHT FOR JAMES MERRILL: AN ADIEU by ANTHONY HECHT TARANTULA: OR THE DANCE OF DEATH by ANTHONY HECHT CHAMPS D?ÇÖHONNEUR by ERNEST HEMINGWAY NOTE TO REALITY by TONY HOAGLAND I HEAR IT SAID by BARBARA YOUNG |
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