Here is this leafy place <br />Quiet he lies, <br />Cold, with his sightless face <br />Turn'd to the skies: <br />'Tis but another dead: <br />All you can say is said. <br /> <br />Carry his body hence ! <br />Kings must have slaves: <br />Kings climb to eminence <br />Over men's graves: <br />So this man's eye is dim; --- <br />Throw the earth over him ! <br /> <br />What was the white you touch'd, <br />There, at his side? <br />Paper his hand had clutch'd <br />Tight ere he died: <br />Message or wish, may be: <br />Smooth the folds out and see ! <br /> <br />Hardly the worst of us <br />Here could have smiled ! <br />Only the tremulous <br />Words of a child: <br />Prattle that has for stops <br />Just a few ruddy drops. <br /> <br />Look ! --- 'She is sad to miss, <br />Morning and night, <br />His ( her dead father's ) kiss; <br />Tries to be bright, <br />Good to Mamma, and sweet: ' <br />(That is all ) --- 'Marguerite.' <br /> <br />Ah ! If beside the dead <br />Slumber'd the pain; <br />Ah ! If the hearts that bled <br />Slept with the slain; <br />If the grief died: --- but no ! <br />Death will not have it so.<br /><br />Henry Austin Dobson<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/before-sedan/
