There is a cap in the closet, <br />Old, tattered, and blue- <br />Of very slight value, <br />It may be, to you: <br />But a crown, jewel studded, <br />Could not buy it to-day, <br />With its letters of honor, <br />Brave 'Co. K.' <br /> <br />The head that it sheltered <br />Needs shelter no more: <br />Dead heroes make holy <br />The trifles they wore; <br />So, like chaplet of honor, <br />Of laurel and bay, <br />Seems the cap of the soldier, <br />Marked 'Co. K.' <br /> <br />Bright eyes have looked calmly <br />Its visor beneath, <br />O'er the work of the Reaper, <br />Grim Harvester Death! <br />Let the muster roll meagre, <br />So mournfully say, <br />How foremost in danger <br />Went 'Co. K.' <br /> <br />Whose footsteps unbroken <br />Came up to the town, <br />Where rampart and bastion <br />Looked threat'ningly down! <br />Who, closing up breaches, <br />Still kept on their way, <br />Till, guns downward pointed, <br />Faced 'Co. K.' <br /> <br />Who faltered or shivered? <br />Who shunned battle stroke? <br />Whose fire was uncertain? <br />Whose battle line broke? <br />Go, ask it of History, <br />Years from to-day, <br />And the record shall tell you, <br />Not 'Co. K.' <br /> <br />Though my darling is sleeping <br />To-day with the dead, <br />And daisies and clover <br />Bloom over his head, <br />I smile through my tears <br />As I lay it away- <br />That battle-worn cap, <br />Lettered 'Co. K.'<br /><br />Anonymous Americas<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/company-k/
