A week or so ago, I promised myself to write a few poems that somehow connected to newspaper headlines that appeared in 1861-1864 American newspapers. Here’s my second effort in that regard. It’s a poem from my developing manuscript The Journals of Lt. Arthur Kendal Everly: Poems of the American Civil War. Everly is a literature teacher and pacifist; yet, he finds himself very involved with the blood and mire of the Civil War.
Here’s the headline.
Here’s the poem. It’s written on the eve of Everly’s first battle experience.
Confederates
July 17, 1861 – Entry Two
Night comes and my heart
finds its rest. But daylight:
a cursed time, when the enemy
unfurls long shadows,
long fingers that stretch
from behind the wrinkled
hide of trees and stones,
scratch promises on the wind:
blood and death.
Damned, foul ghosts:
gray, so gray.
Related articles
- On the Eve of Bull Run (thelintinmypocket.wordpress.com)
- Please Live – Poem 13 (thelintinmypocket.wordpress.com)
- General’s Tent – Poem 11 (thelintinmypocket.wordpress.com)
- Civil War Headlines (thelintinmypocket.wordpress.com)
I like this poem. Very contemporary and suits the civil war times and title. Nice work. Andrea
Thank you. Please stop by again. All the best.
Hi Thomas. I just discovered you on The Bard on the Hill’s blog. Your site is great. I am so intrigued by all that you offer here. I have spent most of my life teaching literature and writing — as well as history and Bible. So, not only am I interested in your poetry, but in all the great civil war material you make available. And I speak for my dad and another good journalist friend as well, since they are as fascinated by the civil war and that period as I am. I will definitely pass this link on to them.
I like this poem very much. Don’t have time to visit long today, but I will follow and definitely visit again soon.
Sandra