1.
In the Grass:
Halt by the
In my tired, helpless bodyI feel my sunk heart ache;
But suddenly,
The far, the great guns shake.
Is it sudden
Burdens my heart?
My
Flies to my head.
I listen…And do not understand.
Is death so near, then?
From this blazing light,
Do I plunge
Into vortex? Night?
Guns again! the
Shakes at the vengeful voice…It is terrible pleasureI do not fear;
I rejoice.2.
On the Way
The battery grinds and jingles,
Mile succeeds to mile;
Shaking the noonday sunshine,
The guns lunge out a
And then are still a while.
We amble along the highway;
The reeking, powdery
Ascends and cakes our faces,
With a striped, sweaty crust.
Under the still sky's
The heat throbs in the air…The white road's dusty radiance,
Assumes a dark glare.
With a head hot and heavy,
And eyes that cannot rest,
And a black heart
In a stifled breast,
I sit in the saddle,
I feel the road unroll,
And keep my senses
Toward to-morrow's goal.
There over unknown meadows,
Which we must reach at last,
Day and night thundersA black and chilly blast.
Heads forget heaviness,
Hearts forget spleen,
For by that mighty
Being is blown clean.
Light in the eyes again,
Strength in the hand,
A spirit dares, dies,
And can understand.
And best! Love comes back
After grief and shame,
And along the wind of
Throws a clean flame!
The battery grinds and jingles;
Mile succeeds to mile;
Suddenly battering the
The guns burst out a while.
I lift my head and smile.3.
Nearer and ever nearer….
My body tired but
Hovers 'twixt vague
And tremulous confidence.
Arms to have and to use them,
And a soul to be
Worthy if not worthy;
If afraid, unafraid!
To endure for a little.
To endure and have done:
Men I love about me,
Over me the sun!
And should at last
Fly the speeding death:
The four great quarters of
Receive this little breath.
