These there were, who lost their everything. <br />Gave all! And left the earth a vaster sphere <br />In memories: a song or two to sing, <br />Some takes to tell, some thoughts to think, <br />more near <br />To humanness by death, and blood of death <br />Than life itself, which in the passing hence <br />Enriched the world with an awakened breath, <br />And fled no longer nameless form the sense. <br />‘Twas not the shed of blood, but fearless mirth <br />that set a wondrous pattern to the earth. <br />And these,, - within a corner that is theirs, <br />Are laid in smiling peace – a rich content. <br />The pain has been – the glory is. Old cares <br />Have dropped, and left no drooping wonder – <br />ment.<br /><br />Leon Gellert<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-dead-17/
