Adieu to a Soldier

ADIEU, O soldier!
You of the rude campaigning, (which we shared,)
The rapid march, the life of the camp,
The hot contention of opposing fronts�the long manoeuver,
Red battles with their slaughter,�the stimulus�the strong, terrific game,
Spell of all brave and manly hearts�the trains of Time through you, and like of you,
all
fill�d,
With war, and war�s expression.

Adieu, dear comrade!
Your mission is fulfill�d�but I, more warlike,
Myself, and this contentious soul of mine,
Still on our own campaigning bound,
Through untried roads, with ambushes, opponents lined,
Through many a sharp defeat and many a crisis�often baffled,
Here marching, ever marching on, a war fight out�aye here,
To fiercer, weightier battles give expression.

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A child said, What is the grass

A child said, What is the grass? fetching it to me with full
hands;
How could I answer the child?. . . .I do not know what it
is any more than he.

I guess it must be the flag of my disposition, out of hopeful
green stuff woven.

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