English poem
The Bird Of War
by Hartley Burr Alexander (1873–1939)
On mighty pinions flying, The Bird of War, the Bird of War!
I shout to the skies! In triumph I shout!... The hollow sky answers me back....
Men live not forever, Men battle and die.... Like eagles their souls ascend the hollow sky.
* * * * *
The warriors pass, The young men pass.... In his place I cannot see him....
In the night I hear him crying, In the night I hear him pleading.... The spirit stars are rising....
* * * * *
When they dug up my bones they painted them red.... Red was upon my body when I died; I cannot forget how it was when I died.