VIGIL STRANGE I KEPT ON THE FIELD ONE NIGHT.
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igil strange I kept on the field one night;When you my son and my comrade dropt at my side that day,One look I but gave which your dear eyes return'd with a look I shallnever forget,One touch of your hand to mine O boy, reach'd up as you lay on theground,Then onward I sped in the battle, the even-contested battle,Till late in the night reliev'd to the place at last again I made myway,Found you in death so cold dear comrade, found your body son ofresponding kisses, (never again on earth responding,)Bared your face in the starlight, curious the scene, cool blew themoderate night-wind,Long there and then in vigil I stood, dimly around me thebattle-field spreading,Vigil wondrous and vigil sweet there in the fragrant silent night,But not a tear fell, not even a long-drawn sigh, long, long I gazed,Then on the earth partially reclining sat by your side leaning mychin in my hands,Passing sweet hours, immortal and mystic hours with you dearestcomrade--not a tear, not a word,Vigil of silence, love and death, vigil for you my son and mysoldier,As onward silently stars aloft, eastward new ones upward stole,Vigil final for you brave boy, (I could not save you, swift was yourdeath,I faithfully loved you and cared for you living, I think we shallsurely meet again,)Till at latest lingering of the night, indeed just as the dawnappear'd,My comrade I wrapt in his blanket, envelop'd well his form,Folded the blanket well, tucking it carefully over head and carefullyunder feet,And there and then and bathed by the rising sun, my son in his grave,in his rude-dug grave I deposited,Ending my vigil strange with that, vigil of night and battle-fielddim,Vigil for boy of responding kisses, (never again on earthresponding,)Vigil for comrade swiftly slain, vigil I never forget, how as daybrighten'd,I rose from the chill ground and folded my soldier well in hisblanket,And buried him where he fell.
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