ALONE through gloomy forest-shades A soldier went by night; No moonbeam pierced the dusky glades, No star shed guiding light. Yet on his vigil's midnight round The youth all cheerly passed; Unchecked by aught of boding sound That muttered in the blast. Where were his thoughts that lonely hour? -- In his far home, perchance; His father's hall, his mother's bower, Midst the gay vines of France: Wandering from battles lost and won, To hear and bless again The rolling of the wide Garonne, Or murmur of the Seine. Hush! hark! -- did stealing steps go by? Came not faint whispers near? No! the wild wind hath many a sigh, Amidst the foliage sere. Hark, yet again! -- and from his hand, What grasp hath wrenched the blade? -- Oh, single midst a hostile band, Young soldier! thou'rt betrayed! "Silence!" in under-tones they cry -- "No whisper -- not a breath! The sound that warns thy comrades nigh Shall sentence thee to death." Still, at the bayonet's point he stood, And strong to meet the blow; And shouted, midst his rushing blood, "Arm, arm, Auvergne! the foe!" The stir, the tramp, the bugle-call -- He heard their tumults grow; And sent his dying voice through all -- @3"Auvergne, Auvergne! the foe!"@1 | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THEY PRAISE THE SUN by JOHN CROWE RANSOM AUTUMN MORNING AT CAMBRIDGE by FRANCES CROFTS DARWIN CORNFORD ITALY SWEET TOO! by JOHN KEATS ODE IN MEMORY OF THE AMERICAN VOLUNTEERS FALLEN FOR FRANCE by ALAN SEEGER |