Page:Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War.djvu/133

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
A Dirge for McPherson.
125


Lay him down within the nave,
The Lesson read—
Man is noble, man is brave,
But man's—a weed.

Take him up again and wend
Graveward, nor weep:
There's a trumpet that shall rend
This Soldier's sleep.

Pass the ropes the coffin round,
And let descend;
Prayer and volley—let it sound
McPherson's end.

True fame is his, for life is o'er—
Sarpedon of the mighty war.