The Deserter
"What sound awakened me, I wonder,For now 'tis dumb.""Wheels on the road most like, or thunder:Lie down; 'twas not the drum.:
"Toil at sea and two in havenAnd trouble far:Fly, crow, away, and follow, raven,And all that croaks for war."
"Hark, I heard the bugle crying,And where am I?My friends are up and dressed and dying,And I will dress and die."
"Oh love is rare and trouble plentyAnd carrion cheap,And daylight dear at four-and-twenty:Lie down again and sleep."
"Reach me my belt and leave your prattle:Your hour is gone;But my day is the day of battle,And that comes dawning on.
"They mow the field of man in season:Farewell, my fair,And, call it truth or call it treason,Farewell the vows that were."
"Ay, false heart, forsake me lightly:'Tis like the brave.They find no bed to joy in rightlyBefore they find the grave.
"Their love is for their own undoing.And east and westThey scour about the world a-wooingThe bullet in their breast.
"Sail away the ocean over,Oh sail away,And lie there with your leaden loverFor ever and a day."
Sign in to like, rate and collect poems, and keep track of what you've read.