[In “Bugle Echoes” Mr. Francis F. Browne introduces this
poem with the following note: “In one of the battles in
Virginia, a gallant young Mississippian had fallen, and
at night, just before burying him, there came a letter
from his betrothed. One of the burial group took the
letter and laid it upon the breast of the dead soldier,
with the words: ‘Bury it with him. He’ll see it when he
wakes.’”--EDITOR.]
Amid the clouds of battle-smoke
The sun had died away,
And where the storm of battle broke
A thousand warriors lay.
A band of friends upon the field
Stood round a youthful form
Who, when the war-cloud’s thunder pealed,
Had perished in the storm.
Upon his forehead, on his hair,
The coming moonlight breaks,
And each dear brother standing there
A tender farewell takes.
But ere they laid him in his home
There came a comrade near,
And gave a token that had come
From her the dead held dear.
A moment’s doubt upon them pressed,
Then one the letter takes,
And lays it low upon his breast--
“He’ll see it when he wakes.”
O thou who dost in sorrow wait,
Whose heart with anguish breaks,
Though thy dear message came too late,
“He’ll see it when he wakes.”
No more amid the fiery storm
Shall his strong arm be seen;
No more his young and manly form
Tread Mississippi’s green;
And e’en thy tender words of love--
The words affection speaks--
Came all too late; but oh! thy love
“Will see them when he wakes.”
No jars disturb his gentle rest,
No noise his slumber breaks,
But thy words sleep upon his breast--
“He’ll see them when he wakes.”
[Southern.]
[Illustration]