Send them home tenderly, <br />The sleepers at rest, <br />With hands meekly folded <br />On each silent breast; <br />Let them come back to slumber <br />Beneath northern skies, <br />Where true hearts may weep o’er them, <br />And prayer incense rise. <br /> <br />Send them home tenderly, <br />The noble and true, <br />Scarce gone from their hearthstones - <br />Scarce whispered 'Adieu' <br />Gone forth for their country, <br />It’s rights to sustain, <br />But, all bleeding and lifeless, <br />Returning again. <br /> <br />Send them home tenderly, <br />Our martyr'd and brave, <br />With the stripes and stars round them, <br />All robed for the grave. <br />Bereaved mothers shall clasp them <br />In pride to their breast, <br />And the good of our nation <br />Shall weep where they rest. <br /> <br />Send them home tenderly, <br />Each wound gaping wide <br />Shall send myriads of voices <br />From the dark purple tide; <br />And strong hands shall be grasping <br />The bright, unsheath'd sword, <br />With fresh fervor to battle <br />For right and the Lord.<br /><br />Anonymous Americas<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/send-them-home-tenderly/
