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Poem
November 27, 1868
Staunton Vindicator
Staunton, Virginia
What is this article about?
In the aftermath of a battle, two dying soldiers from opposing sides—one from New Hampshire, one from Georgia—lie together, forgive each other, and lament leaving their wives and daughters behind, highlighting shared humanity in death.
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Full Text
[The following beautiful poem is from The CHAR-
TER, a volume in press by Sheldon & Co., a collection of poems prepared for the press by Samuel
Marsh, Jr., of Staten Island. The authoress is Mrs.
John L. Flagg, the wife of the Mayor of Troy, New
York.]
AFTER THE BATTLE.
A waste of land, a sodden plain,
A lurid sunset sky,
Mild clouds that fled and faded fast,
In ghostly phantasy.
A field upturned by trampling feet,
A field up-piled with slain,
With horse and rider blent in death,
Upon the battle plain.
The dying and the dead lie low;
For them no more shall rise
The evening moon, nor midnight stars
Nor daylight's soft surprise.
They wake no more to tenderest call,
Nor see again each home
Where waiting hearts shall throb and break
When this day's tidings come.
Two soldiers lying as they fell
Upon the reddened clay,
In daytime foes, at night at peace,
Breathing their lives away.
Brave hearts had stirred each manly breast,
Fate only made them foes;
And lying, dying, side by side
A softer feeling rose.
"Our time is short," one faint voice said,
"To-day we did our best
On different sides; what matter now?
To-morrow we're at rest.
Life lies behind; I might not care
For only my own sake,
But far away are other hearts
That this day's work will break.
Among New Hampshire's many hills
There pray for me to-night
A woman, and a little girl,
With hair like golden light"
And at the thought, broke forth at last
The cry of anguish wild,
That would not longer be repressed-
"Oh God! my wife-my child!"
"And." said the other dying man,
"Across the Georgia plain,
There watch and wait for me loved ones
I'll never see again,
A little child with dark bright eyes,
Each day waits at the door
The father's step. the father's kiss
That never greet her more.
"To-day we sought each other's lives-
Death levels all that now;
For soon, before God's mercy seat
Together we shall bow.
Forgive each other while we may;
Life's but a weary game;
And right or wrong, to-morrow's sun
Will find us dead the same."
The dying lips the pardon breathe,
The dying hands entwine:
The last ray dies, and over all
The stars from Heaven shine;
And the little girl with golden hair,
The one with dark eyes bright,
On Hampshire's hill and Georgia's plain.
Were fatherless that night.
TER, a volume in press by Sheldon & Co., a collection of poems prepared for the press by Samuel
Marsh, Jr., of Staten Island. The authoress is Mrs.
John L. Flagg, the wife of the Mayor of Troy, New
York.]
AFTER THE BATTLE.
A waste of land, a sodden plain,
A lurid sunset sky,
Mild clouds that fled and faded fast,
In ghostly phantasy.
A field upturned by trampling feet,
A field up-piled with slain,
With horse and rider blent in death,
Upon the battle plain.
The dying and the dead lie low;
For them no more shall rise
The evening moon, nor midnight stars
Nor daylight's soft surprise.
They wake no more to tenderest call,
Nor see again each home
Where waiting hearts shall throb and break
When this day's tidings come.
Two soldiers lying as they fell
Upon the reddened clay,
In daytime foes, at night at peace,
Breathing their lives away.
Brave hearts had stirred each manly breast,
Fate only made them foes;
And lying, dying, side by side
A softer feeling rose.
"Our time is short," one faint voice said,
"To-day we did our best
On different sides; what matter now?
To-morrow we're at rest.
Life lies behind; I might not care
For only my own sake,
But far away are other hearts
That this day's work will break.
Among New Hampshire's many hills
There pray for me to-night
A woman, and a little girl,
With hair like golden light"
And at the thought, broke forth at last
The cry of anguish wild,
That would not longer be repressed-
"Oh God! my wife-my child!"
"And." said the other dying man,
"Across the Georgia plain,
There watch and wait for me loved ones
I'll never see again,
A little child with dark bright eyes,
Each day waits at the door
The father's step. the father's kiss
That never greet her more.
"To-day we sought each other's lives-
Death levels all that now;
For soon, before God's mercy seat
Together we shall bow.
Forgive each other while we may;
Life's but a weary game;
And right or wrong, to-morrow's sun
Will find us dead the same."
The dying lips the pardon breathe,
The dying hands entwine:
The last ray dies, and over all
The stars from Heaven shine;
And the little girl with golden hair,
The one with dark eyes bright,
On Hampshire's hill and Georgia's plain.
Were fatherless that night.
What sub-type of article is it?
Elegy
Ballad
What themes does it cover?
War Military
Death Mourning
What keywords are associated?
Battlefield Death
Dying Soldiers
Forgiveness
Civil War
Family Grief
New Hampshire
Georgia
What entities or persons were involved?
Mrs. John L. Flagg
Poem Details
Title
After The Battle.
Author
Mrs. John L. Flagg
Subject
After The Battle
Key Lines
Two Soldiers Lying As They Fell
Upon The Reddened Clay,
In Daytime Foes, At Night At Peace,
Breathing Their Lives Away.
"Our Time Is Short," One Faint Voice Said,
"To Day We Did Our Best
On Different Sides; What Matter Now?
To Morrow We're At Rest.
The Dying Lips The Pardon Breathe,
The Dying Hands Entwine:
The Last Ray Dies, And Over All
The Stars From Heaven Shine;
And The Little Girl With Golden Hair,
The One With Dark Eyes Bright,
On Hampshire's Hill And Georgia's Plain.
Were Fatherless That Night.