A Sight In Camp

Walt Whitman 1819 (West Hills) – 1892 (Camden)




   A SIGHT in camp in the day-break 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.

   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-grey'd hair,
         and flesh all sunken about the eyes?
   Who are you, my dear comrade?                                      10

   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.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 14, 2023

55 sec read
81

Quick analysis:

Scheme XXXAABCX XXCXDX BB XXXXD
Closest metre Iambic hexameter
Characters 1,098
Words 183
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 8, 6, 2, 5

Walt Whitman

Walter "Walt" Whitman was an American poet, essayist and journalist. more…

All Walt Whitman poems | Walt Whitman Books

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