Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE STANDARD BEARER by AMELIA JOSEPHINE BURR

First Line: SWIFTLY THE SHRIEKING FIRE-BIRD GLEAMS
Last Line: AND DRAW ONE DEEP, UNTROUBLED BREATH.
Subject(s): PEACE;

SWIFTLY the shrieking fire-bird gleams
Before his blank, bewildered face.
Close to his ear the bullet screams,
The battle swirls about his place.

ONE thought alone stands clear to him
Whose rigid arms the Standard keep,
Before whose desperate eyes and dim
The ranks reel by as seen in sleep,

ONE longing -- in the orchard lane,
Far from this blazing blare of death,
To stand at twilight once again
And draw one deep, untroubled breath.



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