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Leaves of Grass (1891-92)
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THE DYING VETERAN.
[A Long Island incident—early part of the present century.]
Amid these days of order, ease, prosperity, |
Amid the current songs of beauty, peace, decorum, |
I cast a reminiscence—(likely 'twill offend you, |
I heard it in my boyhood;)—More than a generation since, |
A queer old savage man, a fighter under Washington himself, |
(Large, brave, cleanly, hot-blooded, no talker, rather spiritual-
istic,
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Had fought in the ranks—fought well—had been all through the
Revolutionary war,)
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Lay dying—sons, daughters, church-deacons, lovingly tending
him,
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Sharping their sense, their ears, towards his murmuring, half-
caught words:
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"Let me return again to my war-days, |
To the sights and scenes—to forming the line of battle, |
To the scouts ahead reconnoitering, |
To the cannons, the grim artillery, |
To the galloping aids, carrying orders, |
To the wounded, the fallen, the heat, the suspense, |
The perfume strong, the smoke, the deafening noise; |
Away with your life of peace!—your joys of peace! |
Give me my old wild battle-life again!" |
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