"Splendidly dead," who dares such maudlin singing! Seeger, Kilmer, Pearse, Brooke and Péguy— Men who would today be gladly bringing Daring gifts of song to tired humanity, Sacrificed to Power's lust for power, Masked beneath the lie: "For Home and Honor." "Splendidly dead"—the pride of manhood's flower Crucified upon the cross of horror? Face the truth; what need @3now@1 to dissemble? Mars and Kings have silenced all their singing; They are dust and yet we start and tremble At the white dove's perilous slow winging. ... Never I hear of their "splendid dying" But I hear the voice of lost song crying. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI: 2. HEAT by JOHN GOULD FLETCHER VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS by GREGORY I THE EVE OF ST. AGNES by JOHN KEATS A STRIP OF BLUE by LUCY LARCOM SONNET: 24. THE STREET by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL WAITING FOR THE GRAPES by WILLIAM MAGINN |