1862
1862
TWAS IN THE SUMMER OF '62
WHEN MEN WORE GRAY
AND OTHERS BLUE
WHEN SOUNDS OF MIGHTY BATTLES RAGED
AS WAR BETWEEN THE STATES WAS WAGED
OH WHAT YOUNG MEN WERE WE
FULL OF LIFE AND FANCY FREE
BOASTING HOW WE’D WIN THE WAR
A DAY OR TWO, NOT ANY MORE
AND ON THIS DAY WE START OUR VENTURE
MARCHING TOWARD OUR GREAT ADVENTURE
ALL DAY WE WALKED ON DUSTY ROADS,
THE SWEAT ON BROW FROM HEAVY LOADS
THEN DAYS END ON THE RIVER BANKS
WE FINALLY CAMPED AND GAVE OUR THANKS
STORIES WERE TOLD AS THE PICKETS PATROLLED
THE SARGENT WAS THERE
SOME GRAY IN HIS HAIR
THE SCARS ON HIS FACE
SO EASY TO TRACE
AND SO WAS A BOY
JUST 15 NO MORE
HE ASKED THE SARGENT
JUST WHY WE’RE AT WAR
THE SARGENT LOOKED UP
WITH A COLD MILKY EYE
AND SAID SON I’LL TELL YOU
AND IT WON’T BE A LIE
THE STARE SO INTENSE
THAT CAME FROM HIS EYES
HIS VOICE STAYING SOFT
HIS WORDS WERE SO WISE
WHEN SOULS OF ALIKE
ARE NO LONGER TOGETHER
WHEN ALL TALKING STOPS
LIKE YESTERDAY’S WEATHER
WHAT ONCE WAS FORBEARANCE
THAT THEN TURNS TO HATE
WILL TAKE A GREAT MANY
TO THE DEVILS OWN GATE
WAR IS A THING SON
IN WHICH WE ALL SIN
WAR IS A THING
NOT TO BE IN
WAR IS A WORD
THERE IS NO DELIGHT
TONIGHT WE’LL HAVE PEACE
AND TOMORROW WE’LL FIGHT
TOMORROWS THE DAY
HE SAID WITH THAT STARE
WHEN BOYS BECOME MEN
AS SOULS BECOME BARE
YOU’LL KNOW WHO YOU ARE
IF YOU LIVE THROUGH THE DAY
YOU’LL KNOW WHAT YOU ARE
BY THE MEN THAT YOU SLAY
WHO AM I THOUGHT I
ON THAT WARM SUMMER NIGHT
MY SENSE OF IMMORTAL
HAD NOW TURNED TO FRIGHT
AND AS IT TURNED OUT
I WAS NOT SO ALONE
A CHILL RAN THROUGH ALL
RIGHT DOWN TO THE BONE
AND SO THE DAY ENDED
NOT AS IT BEGAN
OUR THOUGHTS NOW SUSPENDED
OUR WILL NOT SO GRAND
NOT ONCE COULD I SLEEP
NOT EVEN A YAWN
IN FEAR DID TIME CREEP
THE MINUTES TO DAWN
Copyright © Tom Fleece | Year Posted 2025
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