Where are the warring brave of yesterday? Where lie their rusting implements of pain? Where are the banners; vanguards of the way That led them on into a lethal rain? Was all their dying -- all their hope in vain? What is there now that's left to justify Their sacrifice? What foothold did we gain? What echo sounds the notes of their death cry? What won a world that sent its youth to die, Its best to fall, its noblest and its bold? Have tears smoothed out the hummocks where they lie? Will things be better when the world is old? They did not know -- not one courageous heart -- We'd circle on the trail to near their start. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SLEEPY HOLLOW by WILLIAM ELLERY CHANNING (1817-1901) THE GARDEN SEAT by THOMAS HARDY THE TEMERAIRE by HERMAN MELVILLE THE SHEPHEARDES CALENDER: JUNE by EDMUND SPENSER OH, LOVE THOU TOO! by JOHANNA AMBROSIUS |