Page:Soldier poets, songs of the fighting men, 1916.djvu/82

Rh After "Lights out" and the talk

Subsequent, and when but the walk

Of the sentry tramping near

Breaks the silence and the queer

Nasal noises "heroes" snore

Just like men other and more—

They would be of gentler mood,

Seeing them on their couches rude,

Wearied after toil, asleep,

(Are their slumbers dreamless, deep?

Or do dark forebodings mar

Their repose who silent are?)

The white faces, if the moon

Chanced to shine, as in a swoon

Faces are. And were they wise

They would say of each that lies,

Heedless both of praise and blame,

"Faults he has but still he came,

Duty summoning, all men cherish

Left and but, perchance, to perish."

Shamefaced they would pass them by

In the moonlight as they lie,

All on tiptoe they would flit

Doorwards, gently open it,

Glance back once and all unknown

As they entered they'd be gone.

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