Analysis of To A Certain Civilian

   DID YOU ask dulcet rhymes from me?
   Did you seek the civilian's peaceful and languishing rhymes?
   Did you find what I sang erewhile so hard to follow?
   Why I was not singing erewhile for you to follow, to understand--nor
         am I now;
   (I have been born of the same as the war was born;
   The drum-corps' harsh rattle is to me sweet music--I love well the
         martial dirge,
   With slow wail, and convulsive throb, leading the officer's funeral:)
   --What to such as you, anyhow, such a poet as I?--therefore leave my
         works,
   And go lull yourself with what you can understand--and with piano-
         tunes;
   For I lull nobody--and you will never understand me.               10