VIGIL STRANGE I KEPT ON THE FIELD ONE NIGHT
by: Walt Whitman (1819-1892)
- 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 shall never forget,
- One touch of your hand to mine O boy, reach'd up as you lay
on the ground,
- 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 my way,
- Found you in death so cold dear comrade, found your body
son of responding kisses, (never again on earth responding,)
- Bared your face in the starlight, curious the scene, cool
blew the moderate night-wind,
- Long there and then in vigil I stood, dimly around me the
battle-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
my chin in my hands,
- Passing sweet hours, immortal and mystic hours with you dearest
comrade -- not a tear, not a word,
- Vigil of silence, love and death, vigil for you my son and
my soldier,
- As onward silently stars aloft, eastward new ones upward
stole,
- Vigil final for you brave boy, (I could not save you, swift
was your death,
- I faithfully loved you and cared for you living, I think
we shall surely meet again,)
- Till at latest lingering of the night, indeed just as the
dawn appear'd,
- My comrade I wrapt in his blanket, envelop'd well his form,
- Folded the blanket well, tucking it carefully over head and
carefully under 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-field
dim,
- Vigil for boy of responding kisses, (never again on earth
responding,)
- Vigil for comrade swiftly slain, vigil I never forget, how
as day brighten'd,
- I rose from the chill ground and folded my soldier well in
his blanket,
- And buried him where he fell.
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