Keowee Courier

BY R. A. THOMPSON & CO.

POETRY.

Somebody's Darling.

Into a ward of the white-washed halls,
Where the dead and the dying lay
Wounded by bayonet, shells and balls,
Somebody's darling was borne one day;
Somebody's darling, so young and so brave!

Wearing on his sweet pale face—
Soon to be hid in the dust of the grave—
The lingering light of his boyhood's grace.

Matted and damp are the curls of gold,
Kissing the snow of that fair young brow;
Pale are the lips of delicate mould—
Somebody's darling is dying now.

Back from the beautiful blue-veined brow
Brush its wandering waves of gold;
Cross his hands on his bosom now—
Somebody's darling is still and cold.

Kiss him once for somebody's sake,
Murmur a prayer soft and low;
One bright curl from its fair mate take,
They are somebody's pride, so sweetly they grow.

Somebody's hand hath rested there;
Was it a mother's soft and white,
Or have the lips of a sister fair
Been baptized in the waves of light?

God knows best! He has somebody's love,
Somebody's heart enshrined him there;
Somebody wafted his name above,
Night and morn, on the wings of prayer.

Somebody wept when he marched away,
Looking so handsome, brave and grand;
Somebody's kiss on his forehead lay,
Somebody clung to his parting hand.

Somebody's watching and waiting for him,
Yearning to hold him again to her heart;
And there he lies with his blue eyes dim,
And the smiling, child-like lips apart.

Tenderly bury the fair young dead,
Pausing to drop on his grave a tear;
Carve on the wooden slab at his head,
"Somebody's darling slumbers here!"