Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-08-03
CQortester Qailp gpD,
NOT ON THE BATTLEFIELD
BY JOHN PIERPoNr

BY JOHN PIERPoNr
ITO fall on the battle-feld fnb4;.
that would not be hard I'm Ns ,i,1 ue
Ono, no-let me lie 's -'ets"9o'S
No' on pl, neLd OF battle, when dier
nc - iet nor the IRON tread
~ nor let the reekng knife '''eu neau
nay ~ nave drawn against brothers Iis,
Thu, ~ III my hand when death
n Ills heaYy squadrons heels
eOi9 leloeS OF his cannon's wheels
~, From such a dying bed.
Ahough Ger it float the strines of white or5 l
m, ana the bald eagle crimes W ie"'
T1osrergd stars upon his widespread wings,
" never let my spirit take her fight
| know that beauty's eye
&c an tLe brighter where tie gay pennants ly.
ANA brazen helmets dance S'
And sunshine flashes ON the lifted anco
know that bards have sung
ana people shouted till the welEn rung
w, IN honor of the brave
W no on the battlefield have foupd a or,
know that DER their bones
nave grateful hands piled monumental stono
~, some OF those piles Ive seen; e'
"o VIZ Une AT Lexington, upon the green
" mere the first blood was shed
Anu TO my country's independence led.
M ANA Others ON our shore '
Inc Battle Monuments at Balt;mor
ana That on Bunker's Hill
Thu Thu t abroad, few more famous still;
my tomb" Themistocles
Anat looks out yet upon the Grecian seas
nv And which the waters kiss 'e''s'
Ahat issue from the gulf of Salamis
Nv, ana thine, too, have seen
any mound OF earth, PatrocIus ROBBED in graz,
@, lhat, like a natural knoll " sA0eH'
>heep climb and nibble over Dc 4,o,. ..,r
Nacheu by some turbaned bow
OPoh the margin of the plain of TROY
Such honors grace the bed.
ANA % SaaaS The Ii warrior lays his head
Inc conquered flying and the connueror,s sbo4
49, But, as his eye grows dim u eiou'
W ha AL is column or a mound to him?
m nat to the parting soul
Inc mellow note of bugles! What tbe roll
, OF drums! No! let me die ' '"0 ioii
mere the blue heaven bends 0er mo Io,;,,,
ana the soft summer air
AS IL goes by me, stirs my thin white hair
NJ, ana from my forehead dries ~
Aile Geath damp as it gathers and the skios
\, seem waiting to receive Wv io'
99 Sa 10Th, 70 TIER clear depths Or let me leave
HLe, cmldren, weeping friends are ootbarod
ana the calm voice of PRAYER 9"'ieieu'
NAiiG m noly hymnlng shall my soul prepare
Wa go ana be at rest
~ Th hlI hn spirits-spirits who have blessed
~ lapofS, cares, and counsels for their oood
W men riches, fame and honor have M ,oro
To bear the spirit nm "'e nv power
II from I my lips to turn aside the cun
, nat all must drink at last
y IeG me draw refreshment from fine nost,
Wi men let my soul run back p"'''
AID pd' sao a tSSoJ Joy along my earthly track
Have nave scattered there, in virtuous deeds
live lave sprung up, and have given '
HFeady, fruits of which to taste in 3eave,i t
- And though grassy mound I
Il granite pile says its heroic ground C
- Where my remains repose . 0"iiu -
All will hope-yain hone nerbo,,s e.
Whom have stryen to bless p'-'nat those h
le ,Wahderer reclaimed, the fatherlesc Z
.. hay stand around my grave '
lth the poor prisoner and fbe' nooro,4 Il, &C
,o+ Ana ma breathe an humble PRAYER save r nt
dering there "i0Se zones are moul- o.