Close his eyes; his work is done! <br />What to him is friend or foeman, <br />Rise of moon, or set of sun, <br />Hand of man, or kiss of woman? <br />Lay him low, lay him low, <br />In the clover or the snow! <br />What cares he? he can not know: <br />Lay him low! <br /> <br />As man may, he fought his fight, <br />Proved his truth by his endeavor; <br />Let him sleep in solemn night, <br />Sleep forever and forever. <br />Lay him low, lay him low, <br />In the clover or the snow! <br />What cares he? he can not know: <br />Lay him low! <br /> <br />Fold him in his country's stars, <br />Roll the drum and fire the volley! <br />What to him are all our wars, <br />What but death bemocking folly? <br />Lay him low, lay him low, <br />In the clover or the snow! <br />What cares he? he can not know: <br />Lay him low! <br /> <br />Leave him to God's watching eye, <br />Trust him to the hand that made him. <br />Mortal love weeps idly by: <br />God alone has power to aid him, <br />Lay him low, lay him low, <br />In the clover or the snow! <br />What cares he? he can not know: <br />Lay him low!<br /><br />George Henry Boker<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/dirge-for-a-soldier-2/
