The Dead Soldier

Thy dear brown eyes which were as depths where truth
   Lay bowered with frolic joy, but yesterday
Shone with the fire of thy so guileless youth,
   Now ruthless death has dimmed and closed for aye.

Those sweet red lips, that never knew the stain
   Of angry words or harsh, or thoughts unclean,
Have sung their last gay song. Never again
   Shall I the harvest of their laughter glean.

The goodly harvest of they laughing mouth
   Is garnered in; and lo! the golden grain
Of all thy generous thoughts, which knew no drouth
   Of meanness, and thy tender words remain

Stored in my heart; and though I may not see
   Thy peerless form nor hear thy voice again,
The memory lives of what thou wast to me.
   We knew great love….We have not lived in vain.