FORLORN posts leading, thirty long years fought I Stoutly and well on freedom's battle plain; Hopeless of triumph, never hoped or thought I Safe and uninjured home to see again. I watch'd both day and night, slept not a tittle, As when I camp'd amongst my friends of yore; (And if I felt inclined to doze a little, soon was waken'd by my neighbour's snore.) In those long nights ennui would oft assail me, And fear as well, -- ('tis fools who never fear;) To scare them, I delighted to regale me With whistling songs all full of gibe and jeer. Yes, watchfully I stood, my weapon grasping, -- If a suspicious looking fool drew nigh, I took a careful aim, and laid him gasping With a hot bullet in his paunch or thigh. But by-and-by, if I may so express it, This clumsy fool, whom I so much deride, Proves the best shot; and now, I must confess it, My blood pours forth, my wounds are gaping wide. A post is vacant! All my wounds are gaping -- One falls, the others follow in his wake; Unvanquish'd fall I, -- from my hands escaping My arms break not, my heart alone doth break. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VASHTI by FRANCES ELLEN WATKINS HARPER WINTER EVENING by ARCHIBALD LAMPMAN THE HAND OF LINCOLN by EDMUND CLARENCE STEDMAN THE LADY'S DRESSING ROOM by JONATHAN SWIFT LONDON SURVEYED AND ILLUSTRATED by JOHANNEM ADAMUS SABBATH THOUGHTS by GRACE AGUILAR |