Rhymes of a Red Cross Man

<p><SPAN name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"></SPAN></p> <br/> <h2> The Convalescent </h2> <p>. . . So I walked among the willows very quietly all night;<br/> There was no moon at all, at all; no timid star alight;<br/> There was no light at all, at all; I wint from tree to tree,<br/> And I called him as his mother called, but he nivver answered me.<br/> <br/> Oh I called him all the night-time, as I walked the wood alone;<br/> And I listened and I listened, but I nivver heard a moan;<br/> Then I found him at the dawnin', when the sorry sky was red:<br/> I was lookin' for the livin', but I only found the dead.<br/> <br/> Sure I know that it was Shamus by the silver cross he wore;<br/> But the bugles they were callin', and I heard the cannon roar.<br/> Oh I had no time to tarry, so I said a little prayer,<br/> And I clasped his hands together, and I left him lyin' there.<br/> <br/> Now the birds are singin', singin', and I'm home in Donegal,<br/> And it's Springtime, and I'm thinkin' that I only dreamed it all;<br/> I dreamed about that evil wood, all crowded with its dead,<br/> Where I knelt beside me brother when the battle-dawn was red.<br/> <br/> Where I prayed beside me brother ere I wint to fight anew:<br/> Such dreams as these are evil dreams; I can't believe it's true.<br/> Where all is love and laughter, sure it's hard to think of loss . . .<br/> But mother's sayin' nothin', and she clasps&mdash;<i>A SILVER CROSS</i>.<br/></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />