THE sun shines on the chamber wall, The sun shines through the tree, Now, though unshaken by the wind, The leaves fall ceaselessly; The bells from Woodstock's steeple Shake Blenheim's fading bough. "This day you won Malplaquet," -- "Aye, something then, but now!" They lead the old man to a chair, Wandering, pale and weak; His thin lips move -- so faint the sound You scarce can hear him speak. They lift a picture from the wall, Bold eyes and swelling brow; "The day you won Malplaquet," -- "Aye, something then, but now!" They reach him down a rusty sword, In faded velvet sheath: The old man drops the heavy blade, And mutters 'tween his teeth; There's sorrow in his fading eye, And pain upon his brow; "With this you won Malplaquet," -- "Aye, something then, but now!" Another year, a stream of lights Flows down the avenue; A mile of mourners, sable clad, Walk weeping two by two; The steward looks into the grave With sad and downcast brow: "This day he won Malplaquet, -- Aye, something then, but now!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SETTING SAIL by EMILY DICKINSON HAILSTORM IN MAY by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS THE RUSTIC LAD'S LAMENT IN THE TOWN by DAVID MACBETH MOIR RETURNING, WE HEAR THE LARKS by ISAAC ROSENBERG WINDY NIGHTS by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON |