Liebestod

A poem by Alan Seeger (1888-1916)

I who, conceived beneath another star,

Had been a prince and played with life, instead

Have been its slave, an outcast exiled far

From the fair things my faith has merited.

My ways have been the ways that wanderers tread

And those that make romance of poverty —

Soldier, I shared the soldier’s board and bed,

And Joy has been a thing more oft to me

Whispered by summer wind and summer sea

Than known incarnate in the hours it lies

All warm against our hearts and laughs into our eyes.

I know not if in risking my best days

I shall leave utterly behind me here

This dream that lightened me through lonesome ways

And that no disappointment made less dear;

Sometimes I think that, where the hilltops rear

Their white entrenchments back of tangled wire,

Behind the mist Death only can make clear,

There, like Brunhilde ringed with flaming fire,

Lies what shall ease my heart’s immense desire:

There, where beyond the horror and the pain

Only the brave shall pass, only the strong attain.

Truth or delusion, be it as it may,

Yet think it true, dear friends, for, thinking so,

That thought shall nerve our sinews on the day

When to the last assault our bugles blow:

Reckless of pain and peril we shall go,

Heads high and hearts aflame and bayonets bare,

And we shall brave eternity as though

Eyes looked on us in which we would seem fair —

One waited in whose presence we would wear,

Even as a lover who would be well-seen,

Our manhood faultless and our honor clean.

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• Robert Burns: The Flowery Banks Of Cree: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: Young Jamie, Pride Of A’ The Plain: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: A Red, Red Rose: [Hear Red, Red Rose] by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: A Vision: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: The Minstrel At Lincluden: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: A Fiddler In The North: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: Wilt Thou Be My Dearie?: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: Remorseful Apology: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: Complimentary Epigram On Maria Riddell: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: Address Spoken by Miss Fontenelle on her Benefit Night, December 4th, 1793, at the Theatre, Dumfries.: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: My Spouse Nancy: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: On Mrs. Riddell’s Birthday: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: Thine Am I, My Faithful Fair: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: Deluded Swain, The Pleasure: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: Where Are The Joys I have Met?: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: Thou Hast Left Me Ever, Jamie: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: Down The Burn, Davie: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: Behold The Hour, The Boat Arrive: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: Robert Bruce’s March To Bannockburn: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: Dainty Davie: by Robert Burns

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