QUICKLY the war-smoke lessens—out through the clearing skies The conquerors of demons gaze, with brave, exalted eyes— Long lines of heaped-up corpses tell how the warriors fell In the ebb and flow of the final fight that saved the world from hell. We cheer the well-won victory, as we shout each leader's name— We chant a song of conquest, and we fill the Hall of Fame— We thunder admiration, as the battle-flags go by— But the greatest thing of all is this: "No more of our boys shall die!" Sweet is the hour of triumph, and matchless is the time That sees our legions' mastery o'er deviltry and crime— We thrill with rushing memories—we tell again the tale Of how our regiments' attack cleared wood and hill and dale— The glory of the old, old flag—the name our soldiers gained, Where bayonets were thick as grain and plunging bullets rained— We speak of great deeds, battles won, and with a flashing eye— But the greatest thing of all is this: "No more of our boys shall die!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NEVER TOO LATE: THE PALMER'S ODE by ROBERT GREENE LAST WORDS TO A DUMB FRIEND by THOMAS HARDY SPRING AND FALL: TO A YOUNG CHILD by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN by ALICE MEYNELL SIDNEY GODOLPHIN by CLINTON SCOLLARD L'EAU DORMANTE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH MARY MAGDALEN by BARTOLOME LEONARDO DE ARGENSOLA |