James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902.
September 1Before Sedan
By Austin Dobson (18401921)
H
Quiet he lies,
Cold, with his sightless face
Turned to the skies;
’Tis but another dead;
All you can say is said.
Kings must have slaves;
Kings climb to eminence
Over men’s graves:
So this man’s eye is dim;—
Throw the earth over him.
There, at his side?
Paper his hand had clutched
Tight ere he died;—
Message or wish, may be;—
Smooth out the folds and see.
Here could have smiled!—
Only the tremulous
Words of a child;—
Prattle, that has for stops
Just a few ruddy drops.
Morning and night,
His—her dead father’s—kiss;
Tries to be bright,
Good to mamma, and sweet.
That is all. “Marguerite.”
Slumbered the pain!
Ah, if the hearts that bled
Slept with the slain!
If the grief died;—But no;—
Death will not have it so.