LEST the young soldiers be strange in heaven, God bids the old soldier they all adored Come to Him and wait for them, clean, new-shriven, A happy doorkeeper in the House of the Lord. Lest it abash them, the strange new splendour, Lest it affright them, the new robes clean; Here's an old face, now, long-tried, and tender, A word and a hand-clasp as they troop in. "My boys," he greets them: and heaven is homely, He their great captain in days gone o'er; Dear is the friend's face, honest and comely, Waiting to welcome them by the strange door. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WINTER SONG by LUDWIG HENRICH CHRISTOPH HOLTY THE ONE GRAY HAIR by WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR FAIRYLAND (1) by EDGAR ALLAN POE THE SWEET BRIER by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD THE RING AND THE BOOK: BOOK 7. POMPILIA by ROBERT BROWNING |