short lyric

The Young Soldier

12 linesSource: PoetryDB

It is not death

Without hereafter

To one in dearth

Of life and its laughter,


Nor the sweet murder

Dealt slow and even

Unto the martyr

Smiling at heaven:


It is the smile

Faint as a (waning) myth,

Faint, and exceeding small

On a boy's murdered mouth.