HOW unpurposed, how inconsequential Seemed those southern lines when in the pallor Of the dying winter First we went there! Grass thin-waving in the wind approached them, Red roofs in the near view feigned survival, Lovely mockers, when we There took over. There war's holiday seemed, nor though at known times Gusts of flame and jingling steel descended On the bare tracks, would you Picture death there. Snow or rime-frost made a solemn silence, Bluish darkness wrapped in dangerous safety; Old hands thought of tidy Living-trenches! There it was, my dears, that I departed, Scarce a plainer traitor ever! There too Many of you soon paid for That false mildness. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BONNYBELL: THE BUTTERFLY by EDGAR LEE MASTERS A RENUNCIATION by EDWARD DE VERE THE TEMPEST: PROLOGUE by JOHN DRYDEN THE TEMPER (1) by GEORGE HERBERT THE MERRIMAC by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER TO WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER QUATRAIN: OMAR KHAYYAM (AFTER FITZGERALD) by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH |