<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Dead</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I feared the lonely dead, so old were they, --</p><p class="line">Decrepit, tired beings, ghastly white,</p><p class="line">With withered breasts and eyes devoid of sight,</p><p class="line">Forever mute beneath the sodden clay;</p><p class="line">I feared the lonely dead, and turned away</p><p class="line">From thoughts of sombre death and endless night;</p><p class="line">Thus, through the dismal hours I longed for light</p><p class="line">To drive my utter hopelessness away.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">But now my nights are filled with flowered dreams</p><p class="line">Of singing warriors, beautiful and young;</p><p class="line">Strong men and boys within whose eyes there gleams</p><p class="line">The triumph song of worlds unknown, unsung;</p><p class="line">Grim death has vanished, leaving in its stead</p><p class="line">The shining glory of the living dead.</p></div><p class="byline">-- Sigourney Thayer.<br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/> The Atlantic Monthly. </p></body></html> · Great War