AS TOILSOME I WANDER'D VIRGINIA'S WOODS
As toilsome I wander'd Virginia's woods,
To the music of rustling leaves kick'd by my feet, (for 'twas
autumn,)
I
mark'd at the foot of a tree the grave of a soldier;
Mortally wounded he and buried on the retreat, (easily
all
could I understand,)
The halt of a mid-day hour, when up! no time to lose — yet
this sign left,
On a
tablet scrawl'd and nail'd on the tree by the grave,
Bold, cautious, true, and my loving comrade.
Long, long I muse, then on my way go wandering,
Many a changeful season to follow, and many a scene
of life,
Yet at times through changeful season and scene, abrupt,
alone, or in the crowded street,
Comes
before me the unknown soldier's grave, comes the
inscription rude in Virginia's woods,
Bold, cautious,
true, and my loving comrade.
1865 1867
NOT THE PILOT
Nto the pilot has charged himself to bring his ship into port,
though beaten back and many times baffled;
Not
the pathfinder penetrating inland weary and long,
By deserts parch'd, snows chill'd, rivers wet, perseveres
till he
reaches his destination,
More than I have charged myself, heeded or unheeded, to
compose a
march for these States,
For a battle-call, rousing to arms if need be, years, centuries
hence.
1860 1881
YEAR THAT TREMBLED AND REEL'D BENEATH ME
Year that trembled and reel'd beneath me!
Your summer wind was warm enough, yet the air I breathed
froze me,
A thick gloom fell through the sunshine and darken'd me,
Must I change my triumphant songs?
said I to myself,
Must I indeed learn to chant the cold dirges of the baffled?
And sullen hymns of defeat?
1865 1867
THE WOUND-DRESSER
1
An old man bending I come among new faces,Years looking backward resuming in answer to children,
Come tell us old man, as from young men and maidens that
love me,
(Arous'd and angry, I'd thought to beat the alarum, and urge
relentless war,
But soon my fingers fail'd me, my face droop'd and I
resign'd myself,
To sit by the wounded and soothe them, or silently watch the
dead;)
Years hence of these scenes, of these furious passions, these
chances,
Of unsurpass'd heroes, (was one side so brave? the other was
equally brave;)
Now be witness again, paint the mightiest armies of earth,
Of those armies so rapid so wondrous what saw you to tell us?
What stays with you latest and deepest? of curious panics,
Of hard-fought engagements or sieges tremendous what
deepest remains?
O maidens and young men I love and that love me,
What you ask of my days those the strangest and
sudden
your talking recalls,
Soldier alert I arrive after a long march cover'd with sweat
and dust,
In the
nick of time I come, plunge in the fight, loudly shout
in the rush of successful charge,
Enter the captur'd
works — yet lo, like a swift running river
they fade,
Pass and are gone they fade — I dwell not on soldiers' perils
or soldiers' joys,
(Both I remember well — many of the hardships, few the joys,
yet I was content.)
But in silence, in dreams' projections,
While the world of gain and appearance and mirth goes on,
So soon
what is over forgotten, and waves wash the imprints
off the sand,
With hinged knees returning I enter the
doors, (while for you
up there,
Whoever you are, follow without noise and be of strong
heart.)
Bearing the bandages, water and sponge,
Straight and swift to my wounded I go,
Where they lie on the
ground after the battle brought in,
Where their priceless blood reddens the grass the ground,
Or to the
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