Poems (Rice)/In Memoriam (A grave at Wyoming; the young hero fell)
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For works with similar titles, see In Memoriam.
IN MEMORIAM.
A GRAVE at Wyoming; the young hero fell
On that terrible field, Antietam, the doomed;
The flowers here will bloom, the birds they may tell
Where his form lies forever with glory entombed.
This boy, in his beauty, with dark flashing eye,
The idol of home by that beautiful lake,[1]
Responded alike to the war bugle's cry,
His armor girt on for his country's sake.
On that terrible field, Antietam, the doomed;
The flowers here will bloom, the birds they may tell
Where his form lies forever with glory entombed.
This boy, in his beauty, with dark flashing eye,
The idol of home by that beautiful lake,[1]
Responded alike to the war bugle's cry,
His armor girt on for his country's sake.
O'er his grave at Wyoming loved ones may weep;
The promise he gave is lost to them now;
Yet on the bright scroll his name we will keep;
All meekly resigned to the cross may they bow.
On the battle-field thus it were easier to die,
Than struggle with pain all through a long life:
May the desolate home and the tear-dimmed eye
Be cheered, when he fell so pure in the strife.
The promise he gave is lost to them now;
Yet on the bright scroll his name we will keep;
All meekly resigned to the cross may they bow.
On the battle-field thus it were easier to die,
Than struggle with pain all through a long life:
May the desolate home and the tear-dimmed eye
Be cheered, when he fell so pure in the strife.
His grave at Wyoming; no lovelier place
Can be found for the soldier, so young, to repose.
The summits will guard, and the wild flowers grace,
And the gems, too, that love and affection bestows.
The willows will weep o'er the stream where he played,
And 'neath them the ripples his gala boat kiss;
His pet dog, who always his bidding obeyed,
Waits watching, and seems his young master to miss.
Can be found for the soldier, so young, to repose.
The summits will guard, and the wild flowers grace,
And the gems, too, that love and affection bestows.
The willows will weep o'er the stream where he played,
And 'neath them the ripples his gala boat kiss;
His pet dog, who always his bidding obeyed,
Waits watching, and seems his young master to miss.
His grave at Wyoming; while fresh is the mould,
Plant daisies, and with them the laurel should grow;
When his comrades from battle, and school-mates behold,
The place will be sweet for them surely to know.
'Twas touching the boughs from the willows to bring,
The chapel to drape with flags and with flowers;
Appropriate, too, the chant there to sing,
For his spirit's repose in holier bowers.
Plant daisies, and with them the laurel should grow;
When his comrades from battle, and school-mates behold,
The place will be sweet for them surely to know.
'Twas touching the boughs from the willows to bring,
The chapel to drape with flags and with flowers;
Appropriate, too, the chant there to sing,
For his spirit's repose in holier bowers.
His grave at Wyoming; the place, guard it well;
O, guard it, ye trees, that forever are green,
And whisper the story how bravely he fell;
Ye summits keep watch where the eagle is seen.
O, bird of the North, with thy sheltering wing,
Look lovingly down on this hallowed dust,
Till o'er it the songs of freedom we sing,
Till again reunited in heaven, our trust.
O, guard it, ye trees, that forever are green,
And whisper the story how bravely he fell;
Ye summits keep watch where the eagle is seen.
O, bird of the North, with thy sheltering wing,
Look lovingly down on this hallowed dust,
Till o'er it the songs of freedom we sing,
Till again reunited in heaven, our trust.
- ↑ Lake Melrose.