Here in this leafy place
Quiet he lies,
Cold with his sightless face
turned to the skies;
T'is but another dead;
All you can say is said.
Carry his body hence, -
Kings must have slaves;
Kings climb to eminence
Over men's graves;
So this man's eye is dim; -
Throw the earth over him.
What was the white you touched,
There at his side?
Paper his hand had clutched
Tight ere he died; -
Message or wish may be;
Smooth the folds out and see.
Hardly the worst of us
Here could have smiled!
Only the tremulous
Words of a child;
Prattle that has for stops
Just a few ruddy drops.
Look she is sad to miss,
Morning and night,
His - Her dead father's - kiss;
Tries to be bright,
Good to mama and the sweet.
That is all "Marguerite."
Ah if beside the dead
Slumbered the pain!
Ah if the hearts that bled
Slept with the slain!
if the grief died; - but no.
Death would not have it so