Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume VIII. National Spirit. 1904. | | | | III. War | | The General’s Death | | Joseph O’Connor (1841–1908) |
| | | THE GENERAL dashed along the road | |
| Amid the pelting rain; | |
| How joyously his bold face glowed | |
| To hear our cheers’ refrain! | |
| |
| His blue blouse flapped in wind and wet, | 5 |
| His boots were splashed with mire, | |
| But round his lips a smile was set, | |
| And in his eyes a fire. | |
| |
| A laughing word, a gesture kind,— | |
| We did not ask for more, | 10 |
| With thirty weary miles behind, | |
| A weary fight before. | |
| |
| The gun grew light to every man, | |
| The crossed belts ceased their stress, | |
| As onward to the column’s van | 15 |
| We watched our leader press. | |
| |
| Within an hour we saw him lie, | |
| A bullet in his brain, | |
| His manly face turned to the sky, | |
| And beaten by the rain. | 20 | | | |
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