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HOW SOLEMN AS ONE BY ONE (WASHINGTON CITY, 1865), by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: How solemn as one by one
Last Line: Nor the bayonet stab o friend.
Subject(s): American Civil War; U.s. - History


How solemn as one by one,
As the ranks returning worn and sweaty, as the men file by
where I stand,
As the faces the masks appear, as I glance at the faces
studying the masks,
(As I glance upward out of this page studying you, dear
friend, whoever you are,)
How solemn the thought of my whispering soul to each in the
ranks, and to you!
I see behind each mask that wonder a kindred soul,
O the bullet could never kill what you really are, dear friend,
Nor the bayonet stab what you really are;
The soul! yourself I see, great as any, good as the best,
Waiting secure and content, which the bullet could never kill,
Nor the bayonet stab O friend.





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