Vigil on the Field. by Walt Whitman — Read

VIGIL strange I kept on the field one night, / When you, my son and my comrade, dropped at my side that day. / One look I but gave, which your dear eyes returned with a look I shall / never forget; / One touch of your hand to mine, O boy, reached up as you lay on the ground. / Then onward I sped in the battle, the even-contested battle; / Till, late in the night relieved, to the place at last again I made my way; / Found you in death so cold, dear comrade -- found your body, son of / responding kisses, (never again on earth responding; ) / Bared your face in the starlight -- curious the scene -- cool blew the moderate / night-wind. / Long there and then in vigil I stood, dimly around me the battlefield / spreading; / Vigil wondrous and vigil sweet, there in the fragrant silent night. / But not a tear fell, not even a long-drawn sigh -- Long, long I gazed; / Then on the earth partially reclining, sat by your side, leaning my chin in / my hands; / Passing sweet hours, immortal and mystic hours, with you, dearest comrade -- / Not a tear, not a word; / Vigil of silence, love, and death -- vigil for you, my son and my soldier, / As onward silently stars aloft, eastward new ones upward stole; / Vigil final for you, brave boy, (I could not save you, swift was your / death.

I faithfully loved you and cared for you living -- I think we shall surely / meet again; ) / Till at latest lingering of the night, indeed just as the dawn appeared, / My comrade I wrapped in his blanket, enveloped well his form, / Folded the blanket well, tucking it carefully over head, and carefully under feet; / And there and then, and bathed by the rising sun, my son in his grave, in / his rude-dug grave, I deposited; / Ending my vigil strange with that -- vigil of night and battlefield dim; / Vigil for boy of responding kisses, never again on earth responding; / Vigil for comrade swiftly slain, vigil I never forget -- how as day brightened / I rose from the chill ground, and folded my soldier well in his blanket, / And buried him where he fell.