I wrote this back in August 2004. Some names and incidents have been changed, but like most of my writings – this one is more or less autobiographical. By the way Mozart would have been 250 today.
Delhi roads.. I ran into a book called “Famous Poems from Bygone Days” and found this tender poem that was written by Marie La Coste after the death of her unnamed fiancée, a captain in the Confederate Army. Apparently in 1862, the young French teacher became nurse and visitor at local hospitals for wounded Confederate soldiers. Her poem, which is sung at historical events today, is a distinctive memorial to those soldiers.
Here is an excerpt from the poem…
Somebody wept when he marched away
Looking so handsome, brave, and grand;
Somebody’s kiss on his forehead lay;
Somebody clung to his parting hand-
Somebody’s watching and waiting for him
Yearning to hold him again to her heart;
There he lies – with the blue eyes dim,
And smiling, child-like lips apart.
Tenderly bury the fair young dead,
Pausing to drop on his grave a tear,
Carve on the wooden slab at his head,
“Somebody’s darling lies buried here!”
This reminds me Gujarati poet Jhaverchand Meghani who’s best poem about soldiers “Rakta Tapakti So So Zoli Shamranganthi Aave” which is hard to listen and same way this poem is so effective which has great effect on readers mind..Thank you for posting….