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
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