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THE BROTHER'S HAND.
And once, when a great ghastly Sight close by
Was terrible in the stillness of the moon,
A tall, slight soldier, with a smothered cry.
Crept close and broke some buds and vanished soon;
But, with an almost human joy-in-grief,
The desolate rose-tree thrilled from root to leaf
When he said wearily: "Yes—it is I."
Was terrible in the stillness of the moon,
A tall, slight soldier, with a smothered cry.
Crept close and broke some buds and vanished soon;
But, with an almost human joy-in-grief,
The desolate rose-tree thrilled from root to leaf
When he said wearily: "Yes—it is I."
A whole year more, when summer flushed again,
Near to the same place, in the glitter of heat,
(The earth was red, the sky was smoky then,)
One lay in agony. Against his feet
A gashed and gory flag from its shot staff
Fluttered and fell. There was a cruel laugh
From one he had not feared again to meet;
Near to the same place, in the glitter of heat,
(The earth was red, the sky was smoky then,)
One lay in agony. Against his feet
A gashed and gory flag from its shot staff
Fluttered and fell. There was a cruel laugh
From one he had not feared again to meet;
And a swift horse, deep-black, with foaming mouth
And angry eyes full of wild wonder, sprung
From its light rider—one who loved the South
With his whole bitter soul. And, as he flung
The reins away and stood in tears beside
The dying creature, gentle, till it died,
He showed that he was desperate, dark, and young,
And angry eyes full of wild wonder, sprung
From its light rider—one who loved the South
With his whole bitter soul. And, as he flung
The reins away and stood in tears beside
The dying creature, gentle, till it died,
He showed that he was desperate, dark, and young,
