AND so when he reached my bed The General made a stand: "My brave young fellow," he said, "I would shake your hand." So I lifted my arm, the right, With never a hand at all; Only a stump, a sight Fit to appal. "Well, well. Now that's too bad! That's sorrowful luck," he said; "But there! You give me, my lad, The left instead." So from under the blanket's rim I raised and showed him the other, A snag as ugly and grim As its ugly brother. He looked at each jagged wrist; He looked, but he did not speak; And then he bent down and kissed Me on either cheek. You wonder now I don't mind I hadn't a hand to offer. . . . They tell me (you know I'm blind) @3'Twas Grand-pere Joffre@1. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE MASK by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING THE LOST MISTRESS by ROBERT BROWNING BLACK SAMSON OF BRANDYWINE by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR THE VOYAGE by CAROLINE ATHERTON BRIGGS MASON MY CRYSTAL BRIDE by WILLIAM EDWARD ADAMS THE DANUBE RIVER by C. HAMILTON AIDE |