O English mother, in the ruddy glow Hugging your baby closer when outside You see the silent, soft, and cruel snow Falling again, and think what ills betide Unshelter'd creatures, -- your sad thoughts may go Where War and Winter now, two spectre-wolves, Hunt in the freezing vapour that involves Those Asian peaks of ice and gulfs below. Does this young Soldier heed the snow that fills His mouth and open eyes? or mind, in truth, To-night, @3his@1 mother's parting syllables? Ha! is't red coat? -- Merely blood. Keep ruth For others; this is but an Afghan youth Shot by the stranger on his native hills. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CONTRA MORTEM: THE BEING AS MEMORY by HAYDEN CARRUTH THE BOSTON ATHENAEUM by AMY LOWELL TO HELEN KELLER - HUMANITARIAN, SOCIAL DEMOCRAT, GREAT SOUL by EDWIN MARKHAM NEBUCHADNEZZAR: OR EATING GRASS by EDGAR LEE MASTERS SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: ELIZABETH CHILDERS by EDGAR LEE MASTERS PLAINT OF THE DISGUSTED BRITON IN THE STATES by GEORGE SANTAYANA |