Lesson:

1. A waste of land, a sodden plain,


A lurid sunset sky,


With clouds that fled and faded fast


In ghostly phantasy;


A field upturned by trampling feet,


A field uppiled with slain,


With horse and rider blent in death


Upon the battle plain.





2. 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 will not wake to tenderest call,


Nor see again each home,


Where waiting hearts shall throb and break,


When this day's tidings come.





3. Two soldiers, lying as they fell


Upon the reddened clay—


In daytime, foes; at night, in peace


Breathing their lives away!


Brave hearts had stirred each manly breast;


Fate only, made them foes;


And lying, dying, side by side,


A softened feeling rose.





4. 'Our time is short,' one faint voice said;


'today we 've done our best


On different sides: what matters now?


tomorrow we shall 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.





5. 'Among New Hampshire's snowy hills,


There pray for me tonight


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—


'O God, my wife, my child!'





6. 'And,' said the other dying man,


'Across the Georgia plain,


There watch and wait for me loved ones


I ne'er shall see again:


A little girl, with dark, bright eyes,


Each day waits at the door;


Her father's step, her father's kiss,


Will never greet her more.





7. 'today 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, the morning sun


Will find us, dead, the same.'





8. The dying lips the pardon breathe;


The dying hands entwine;


The last ray fades, and over all


The stars from heaven shine;


And the little girl with golden hair,


And one with dark eyes bright,


On Hampshire's hills, and Georgia's plain,


Were fatherless that night!





DEFINITIONS


1. Sodden: Soaked.


1. Phantasy: Specter-like appearance.


1. Blent: Mingled together.


2. Tidings: News.


5. Anguish: Deep distress.


5. Repressed: Kept back.


8. Pardon: Forgiveness.


8. Entwine: Clasp together.





EXERCISES


1. What do the first two stanzas describe?


2. What does the third?


3. What did one soldier say to the other?


4. Where was his home?


5. What friends had he there?


6. Where was the home of the other soldier?


7. Who waited for him? Did they forgive each other?