| James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902. | | | | March 17 | | The Band in the Pines | | By John Esten Cooke (1830–1886) |
| | (Heard after Pelham died)
OH, band in the pine-wood, cease! | |
| Cease with your splendid call; | |
| The living are brave and noble, | |
| But the dead are bravest of all! | |
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| They throng to the martial summons, | 5 |
| To the loud triumphant strain, | |
| And the dear bright eyes of long-dead friends | |
| Come to the heart again! | |
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| They come with the ringing bugle, | |
| And the deep drums’ mellow roar; | 10 |
| Till the soul is faint with longing | |
| For the hands we clasp no more! | |
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| Oh, band in the pine-wood, cease! | |
| Or the heart will melt with tears, | |
| For the gallant eyes and the smiling lips, | 15 |
| And the voices of old years. | | | | |
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