On a Soldier Fallen in the Philippines

Read 'On a Soldier Fallen in the Philippines' by 'William Vaughn Moody' and provide your summary and literary analysis in the comments section below.

On a Soldier Fallen in the Philippines by William Vaughn Moody

 Streets of the roaring town, 
Hush for him, hus, be still! 
He comes, who was stricken down 
Doing the word of our will. 
Hush! Let him have his state, 
Give him his soldier's crown. 
The grists of trade can wait 
Their grinding at the mill, 
But he cannot wait for his honor, now the trumpet has been blown. 
Wreathe pride now for his granite brow, lay love on his breast of stone.

Toll! Let the great bells toll 
Till the clashing air is dim. 
Did we wrong this parted soul? 
We will make it up to him. 
Toll! Let him never guess 
What work we set him to. 
Laurel, laurel, yes; 
He did waht we bade him do. 
Praise, and never a whispered hint but the fight he fought was good; 
Never a word that the blood on his sword was his country's own heart's-blood.

A flag for the soldier's bier 
Who dies that his land may live; 
O, banners, banners here, 
That he doubt not nor misgive ! 
That he heed not from the tomb 
The evil days draw near 
When the nation, robed in gloom, 
With its faithless past shall strive. 
Let him never dream that his bullet's scream went wide of its island mark, 
Home to the heart of his darling land where she stumbled and sinned in the dark.

Form: Elegy

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