Login
|
Join PoetrySoup
Home
Submit Poems
Login
Sign Up
Member Home
My Poems
My Quotes
My Profile & Settings
My Inboxes
My Outboxes
Soup Mail
Contest Results/Status
Contests
Poems
Poets
Famous Poems
Famous Poets
Dictionary
Types of Poems
Quotes
Short Stories
Articles
Forum
Blogs
Poem of the Day
New Poems
Resources
Syllable Counter
Anthology
Grammar Check
Greeting Card Maker
Classifieds
Member Area
Member Home
My Profile and Settings
My Poems
My Quotes
My Short Stories
My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder
Soup Social
Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us
Member Poems
Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Random
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread
Member Poets
Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest
Famous Poems
Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100
Famous Poets
Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War
Poetry Resources
Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetics
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter
Email Poem
Your IP Address: 3.238.84.213
From Email:
To Email:
Subject
Personal Note:
Poem Title:
Poem
And your sunny years with a gracious wife Have brought you a daughter dear. "I watched her to-day; a more comely maid, As she danced in her muslin bowed with blue, Round a Hintock maypole never gayed." --"Aye, aye; I watched her this day, too, As it happens," the Sergeant said. "My daughter is now," he again began, "Of just such an age as one I knew When we of the Line, in the Foot-Guard van, On an August morning--a chosen few-- Stormed San Sebastian. "She's a score less three; so about was she-- The maiden I wronged in Peninsular days.... You may prate of your prowess in lusty times, But as years gnaw inward you blink your bays, And see too well your crimes! "We'd stormed it at night, by the vlanker-light Of burning towers, and the mortar's boom: We'd topped the breach but had failed to stay, For our files were misled by the baffling gloom; And we said we'd storm by day. "So, out of the trenches, with features set, On that hot, still morning, in measured pace, Our column climbed; climbed higher yet, Past the fauss'bray, scarp, up the curtain-face, And along the parapet. "From the batteried hornwork the cannoneers Hove crashing balls of iron fire; On the shaking gap mount the volunteers In files, and as they mount expire Amid curses, groans, and cheers. "Five hours did we storm, five hours re-form, As Death cooled those hot blood pricked on; Till our cause was helped by a woe within; They swayed from the summit we'd leapt upon, And madly we entered in. "On end for plunder, 'mid rain and thunder That burst with the lull of our cannonade, We vamped the streets in the stifling air-- Our hunger unsoothed, our thirst unstayed-- And ransacked the buildings there. "Down the stony steps of the house-fronts white We rolled rich puncheons of Spanish grape, Till at length, with the fire of the wine alight, I saw at a doorway a fair fresh shape-- A woman, a sylph, or sprite. "Afeard she fled, and with heated head I pursued to the chamber she called her own; --When might is right no qualms deter, And having her helpless and alone I wreaked my lust on her. "She raised her beseeching eyes to me, And I heard the words of prayer she sent In her own soft language.... Seemingly I copied those eyes for my punishment In begetting the girl you see! "So, to-day I stand with a God-set brand Like Cain's, when he wandered from kindred's ken.... I served through the war that made Europe free; I wived me in peace-year. But, hid from men, I bear that mark on me. "And I nightly stray on the Ivel Way As though at home there were spectres rife; I delight me not in my proud career; And 'tis coals of fire that a gracious wife Should have brought me a daughter dear!"
Type the characters you see in the picture