IN THE WILDERNESS
69
I took the flower he loved the best,
The arbutus,—fairest child of May,—
And with its perfume half oppressed,
Twined many a lovely spray
The arbutus,—fairest child of May,—
And with its perfume half oppressed,
Twined many a lovely spray
About his picture on the wall;
His eyes were on me all the while,
And when I had arranged them all
I thought he seemed to smile.
His eyes were on me all the while,
And when I had arranged them all
I thought he seemed to smile.
O Christ, be pitiful! That hour
Saw him fall bleeding on the sod;
And while I toyed with leaf and flower
His soul went up to God!
Saw him fall bleeding on the sod;
And while I toyed with leaf and flower
His soul went up to God!
For him one pang—and then a crown;
For him the laurels heroes wear;
For him a name whose long renown
Ages shall onward bear.
For him the laurels heroes wear;
For him a name whose long renown
Ages shall onward bear.
For me the cross without the crown;
For me the drear and lonely life;
O God! My sun, not his, went down
On that red field of strife.
For me the drear and lonely life;
O God! My sun, not his, went down
On that red field of strife.