PITY him not, the soldier dead, Pity him not who went to die For love of adventure, or fiery zeal In freedom's cause, not asking why. Pity him more if his courage failed To answer that call, to hear that cry. But we who are left in freedom's land Must we ask why? Pity her not, the lone bereaved, Pity her not, for asking why. The progress of the world depends Upon her aching cry. Pity her more, if dumbly meek, She weeps with downcast eye. O! mothers of the world cry out The challenge of your why. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IN THE HOME STRETCH by ROBERT FROST SNOW IN THE SUBURBS by THOMAS HARDY A LONDON PLANE-TREE by AMY LEVY THE WIDOW'S MITE by FREDERICK LOCKER-LAMPSON AT FREDERICKSBURG [DECEMBER 13, 1862] by JOHN BOYLE O'REILLY BELLS FOR JOHN WHITESIDE'S DAUGHTER by JOHN CROWE RANSOM THE MARSEILLAISE by CLAUDE JOSEPH ROUGET DE LISLE |