Page:Battle-retrospect, and other poems - Wilder - 1923.djvu/39

 '''TO G. B. AND OTHERS. DIED IN ACTION.'''

were we different from you

That we should live when you have died?

Wherein less worthy or less true

That unto us it was denied

So great a gift as life to give?

Wherein more immature than you

That you could die and we must live?

What was this secret that you kept

With destiny, this rendezvous,

This tryst towards which your spirits leapt

Exulting, all the battle through?

What jubilant intelligence

Was yours of some unguessed-of prize?

What high election bore you hence

Elated at your sacrifice?

O we who live must envious grow

To think on you—and you—and you—

We left back on that great plateau

Of passion and of faith, for to

That height again we may not climb

Who are descended into time.

Surely they were not born as we.

Rather they were a stalwart band

Of Heaven's youthful chivalry,

Who on that day when Fate's command

Went forth for war together stood

And heard, a shining brotherhood.

They saw the great arena set,

They saw the hosts of Ill deploy,—

What wonder that such hearts should fret

To be withholden from the joy

Of such a great arbitrament?

In them such jealousy was bred

Of mortals then as we who went 33