VIGIL STRANGE I KEPT ON THE FIELD ONE NIGHT
by: Walt Whitman (1819-1892)
IGIL strange I kept on the field one night;
- When you my son and my comrade dropt at my side that day,
- One look I but gave which your dear eyes return'd with a look I shall never forget,
- One touch of your hand to mine O boy, reach'd up as you lay on the ground,
- Then onward I sped in the battle, the even-contested battle,
- Till late in the night reliev'd to the place at last again I made my way,
- Found you in death so cold dear comrade, found your body son of responding kisses, (never again on earth responding,)
- Bared your face in the starlight, curious the scene, cool blew the moderate night-wind,
- Long there and then in vigil I stood, dimly around me the battle-field spreading,
- Vigil wondrous and vigil sweet there in the fragrant silent night,
- But not a tear fell, not even a long-drawn sigh, long, long I gazed,
- Then on the earth partially reclining sat by your side leaning my chin in my hands,
- Passing sweet hours, immortal and mystic hours with you dearest comrade -- not a tear, not a word,
- Vigil of silence, love and death, vigil for you my son and my soldier,
- As onward silently stars aloft, eastward new ones upward stole,
- Vigil final for you brave boy, (I could not save you, swift was your death,
- I faithfully loved you and cared for you living, I think we shall surely meet again,)
- Till at latest lingering of the night, indeed just as the dawn appear'd,
- My comrade I wrapt in his blanket, envelop'd well his form,
- Folded the blanket well, tucking it carefully over head and carefully under feet,
- And there and then and bathed by the rising sun, my son in his grave, in his rude-dug grave I deposited,
- Ending my vigil strange with that, vigil of night and battle-field dim,
- Vigil for boy of responding kisses, (never again on earth responding,)
- Vigil for comrade swiftly slain, vigil I never forget, how as day brighten'd,
- I rose from the chill ground and folded my soldier well in his blanket,
- And buried him where he fell.
- I like this poem because it explains the horrors of the war that he witnessed while serving. He was a nurse in battle and felt the intense sorrow for those of his comrades that fell cold beside him.
