A Sight in Camp by Walt Whitman — Read

1. A sight in camp in the daybreak grey and dim, / As from my tent I emerge so early, sleepless, / As slow I walk in the cool fresh air the path near by the hospital tent, / Three forms I see on stretchers lying, brought out there, untended lying; / Over each the blanket spread, ample brownish woollen blanket, / Grey and heavy blanket, folding, covering all.

2. Curious, I halt, and silent stand; / Then with light fingers I from the face of the nearest, the first, just / lift the blanket; / Who are you, elderly man, so gaunt and grim, with well-greyed hair, and / flesh all sunken about the eyes? / Who are you, my dear comrade?

Then to the second I step -- And who are you, my child and darling? / Who are you, sweet boy, with cheeks yet blooming?

Then to the third -- a face nor child nor old, very calm, as of beautiful / yellow-white ivory: / Young man, I think I know you -- I think this face of yours is the face of / the Christ Himself; / Dead and divine and brother of all, and here again He lies.