Softly, mournfully, without a quiver
The general’s words as a breeze:
“Let us cross over the river,
And rest under the shade of trees”
The general’s words as a breeze
From his mortally febrile lips:
“Let us rest under the shade of trees,”
As he fetched breath, away he slips
From his mortally febrile lips
The warrior's last command came
As he fetched breath, away he slips
It came from the soldier’s dying flame
The warrior's last command came
Summoning his troops to rest
It came from the soldier’s dying flame
A rebel soldier's plead to be blessed
Summoning his troops to rest
In the last minutes of his life
A rebel soldier's plead to be blessed
He bid farewell to his lovely wife
In the last minutes of his life
“Let us cross over the river …”
He bid farewell to his lovely wife
Softly, mournfully, without a quiver
-
Author:
rrodriguez (
Offline) - Published: March 27th, 2017 19:04
- Comment from author about the poem: I was watching a documentary about the Civil War. I watched the episode in which Gen. Stonewall Jackson, after the victory at Chancellorsville, was wounded by friendly fire; eventually dying of pneumonia. Before he died, he clearly uttered, “Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees.” I found this phrase intriguing and it prompted me to write this poem.
- Category: Reflection
- Views: 96
Offline)
Comments3
Some would say that the loss of Jackson is what cost the south the war. Lee was never as efficient without him. Your sad poem of a dying man, a general, and his final words to his troop and his wife, is touching and poetic. It presents a scene that could happen even today. The final moments of one's life are never as expected. The import of the final utterance, of crossing over the river brings an air of the mystical to your poem. Great write. - Phil A.
Phil, you certainly know how to dissect a poem. I love your words about the final moment of one's life. Indeed, they are never as expected. Thanks for reading my poem and for your awesome comments.
Enjoyed the format and Phils description is spot on - good read.
Thank you for reading my poem and for your comment.
Very good write. I think we all have our ideal way for leaving this world and laying beneath the trees sounds ideal.
Thank you for reading my poem and for your comment.
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