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Robert W Service - The Convalescent
Work rating: Medium

. . . So I walked among the willows very quietly all night;
There was no moon at all, at all; no timid star alight;
There was no light at all, at all; I wint from tree to tree,
And I called him as his mother called, but he nivver answered me.

Oh I called him all the night-time, as I walked the wood alone;
And I listened and I listened, but I nivver heard a moan;
Then I found him at the dawnin`, when the sorry sky was red:
I was lookin` for the livin`, but I only found the dead.

Sure I know that it was Shamus by the silver cross he wore;
But the bugles they were callin`, and I heard the cannon roar.
Oh I had no time to tarry, so I said a little prayer,
And I clasped his hands together, and I left him lyin` there.

Now the birds are singin`, singin`, and I`m home in Donegal,
And it`s Springtime, and I`m thinkin` that I only dreamed it all;
I dreamed about that evil wood, all crowded with its dead,
Where I knelt beside me brother when the battle-dawn was red.

Where I prayed beside me brother ere I wint to fight anew:
Such dreams as these are evil dreams; I can`t believe it`s true.
Where all is love and laughter, sure it`s hard to think of loss . . .
But mother`s sayin` nothin`, and she clasps — a silver cross.
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