free-verse20 lines

The Convalescent

. . . So I walked among the willows very quietly all night;

There was no moon at all, at all; no timid star alight;

There was no light at all, at all; I wint from tree to tree,

And I called him as his mother called, but he nivver answered me.

Oh I called him all the night-time, as I walked the wood alone;

And I listened and I listened, but I nivver heard a moan;

Then I found him at the dawnin', when the sorry sky was red:

I was lookin' for the livin', but I only found the dead.

Sure I know that it was Shamus by the silver cross he wore;

But the bugles they were callin', and I heard the cannon roar.

Oh I had no time to tarry, so I said a little prayer,

And I clasped his hands together, and I left him lyin' there.

Now the birds are singin', singin', and I'm home in Donegal,

And it's Springtime, and I'm thinkin' that I only dreamed it all;

I dreamed about that evil wood, all crowded with its dead,

Where I knelt beside me brother when the battle-dawn was red.

Where I prayed beside me brother ere I wint to fight anew:

Such dreams as these are evil dreams; I can't believe it's true.

Where all is love and laughter, sure it's hard to think of loss . . .

But mother's sayin' nothin', and she clasps - A SILVER CROSS.