the death of a soldier, by wallace stevens

life contracts and death is expected,
as in a season of autumn.
the soldier falls.

he does not become a three-days personage,
imposing his separation,
calling for pomp.

death is absolute and without memorial,
as in a season of autumn,
when the wind stops,

when the wind stops and, over the heavens,
the clouds go, nevertheless,
in their direction.

(from stevens, collected poetry & prose, p. 81)

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this is  timely for Fourth of July, although it is not perhaps joyous enough for the feastday.  It is a melancholy, if true, picture of what it means to be a soldier who doesn't return.

Comments

[Lori Witzel]

A very timely post, and of course Mr. Stevens is exquisite as always.

[Lori Witzel]

Hey there -- found a topic in "Moody Monday" that lent itself to a Stevens poem excerpt...come see if you have the time!

[daisy]

i THinK dis is a great poem and it really do means alot to comfort them who lost ones soul in war