Pebbles and Shells (Hawkes collection)/The Living Dead

by Clarence Hawkes

THE LIVING DEAD

When Freedom calls for heroes in her causeAnd all the air is ringing with applause,To charge the foe, e'en to the cannon's breath,And there lay down thy life is noblest death.

When thou art dead to all that life can give,To take thy place within the ranks and liveAnd move as others do, is nobler far,And on the soul it leaves a deeper scar—

There thou wert dead and all thy glory shone,Here thou art dead, and e'en thy death unknown.