"Flowers, only flowers -- bring me dainty posies, <br /> Blossoms for forgetfulness," that was all he said; <br />So we sacked our gardens, violets and roses, <br /> Lilies white and bluebells laid we on his bed. <br />Soft his pale hands touched them, tenderly caressing; <br /> Soft into his tired eyes came a little light; <br />Such a wistful love-look, gentle as a blessing; <br /> There amid the flowers waited he the night. <br /> <br />"I would have you raise me; I can see the West then: <br /> I would see the sun set once before I go." <br />So he lay a-gazing, seemed to be at rest then, <br /> Quiet as a spirit in the golden glow. <br />So he lay a-watching rosy castles crumbling, <br /> Moats of blinding amber, bastions of flame, <br />Rugged rifts of opal, crimson turrets tumbling; <br /> So he lay a-dreaming till the shadows came. <br /> <br />"Open wide the window; there's a lark a-singing; <br /> There's a glad lark singing in the evening sky. <br />How it's wild with rapture, radiantly winging: <br /> Oh it's good to hear that when one has to die. <br />I am horror-haunted from the hell they found me; <br /> I am battle-broken, all I want is rest. <br />Ah! It's good to die so, blossoms all around me, <br /> And a kind lark singing in the golden West. <br /> <br />"Flowers, song and sunshine, just one thing is wanting, <br /> Just the happy laughter of a little child." <br />So we brought our dearest, Doris all-enchanting; <br /> Tenderly he kissed her; radiant he smiled. <br />"In the golden peace-time you will tell the story <br /> How for you and yours, sweet, bitter deaths were ours. . . . <br />God bless little children!" So he passed to glory, <br /> So we left him sleeping, still amid the flow'rs.<br /><br />Robert William Service<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/our-hero/
