Requiem: For a Young Boy

Sometimes the sunset closes dark wings down
Before the dew has melted from the down,
And the young eager games are all fordone
Before the full warming of the sun.

Yesterday the careless cry of joy rang loud
Round your deep-valleyed hills;
To-day, only long shadows darkly crowd
Where bare bowed stumps crouch still.

Still, lie still, lie quietly, quietly now
Still as the white lilies on the fresh cool soil.
Quietly now, who knew in such short space
The whole wild struggle—valiant to live
Till Death
Cheated, and wrest away the breath.

—C.