Streets of the roaring town, <br />Hush for him, hus, be still! <br />He comes, who was stricken down <br />Doing the word of our will. <br />Hush! Let him have his state, <br />Give him his soldier's crown. <br />The grists of trade can wait <br />Their grinding at the mill, <br />But he cannot wait for his honor, now the trumpet has been blown. <br />Wreathe pride now for his granite brow, lay love on his breast of stone. <br /> <br />Toll! Let the great bells toll <br />Till the clashing air is dim. <br />Did we wrong this parted soul? <br />We will make it up to him. <br />Toll! Let him never guess <br />What work we set him to. <br />Laurel, laurel, yes; <br />He did waht we bade him do. <br />Praise, and never a whispered hint but the fight he fought was good; <br />Never a word that the blood on his sword was his country's own heart's-blood. <br /> <br />A flag for the soldier's bier <br />Who dies that his land may live; <br />O, banners, banners here, <br />That he doubt not nor misgive ! <br />That he heed not from the tomb <br />The evil days draw near <br />When the nation, robed in gloom, <br />With its faithless past shall strive. <br />Let him never dream that his bullet's scream went wide of its island mark, <br />Home to the heart of his darling land where she stumbled and sinned in the dark.<br /><br />William Vaughn Moody<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/on-a-soldier-fallen-in-the-philippines/
