The Last Full Measure

Morning

Every morning finds him there
Brushing down his faithful mare
Like every day these three years past
Before he breaks his morning fast

He combs and brushes out her mane
In weather dry or pouring rain
He whispers to her soft and low
And every day his love does grow

"This war , it seems to carry on
I can't believe three years are gone
If not for you my dapple-grey
I'd not have lived to see this day "

"Oh , more than once , you've saved my life
When all about was fear and strife
My faith in you is just deserved
I've never been more nobly served "

He laughs , "I don't know if you hear
These words I whisper in your ear
Just know that with my dieing breath
I'll love you even beyond death "

This soft mare's eyes , they light up so
Or is it just the morning's glow
And just before he turns to leave
She rubs her cheek upon his sleeve

He smiles and rubs between her ears
And hopes he calms all of her fears
Its spring in eighteen sixty-three
A lovely day it looks to be

He takes her head between his hands
And steals a bit from time's demands
To close his eyes and kiss her nose
To share his breath before he goes

The mare , she whickers at his touch
Then nuzzles him who cares so much
To stand and wait there anxiously
In time , once more , his face to see

The soldier walks back to his tent
His face is lined , his body bent
Disturbing everyone's slumber
Comes low this sound , distant thunder



Noon

The call soon came to saddle up
The soldier stared into his cup
Then poured his coffee on the fire
To hiss among the glowing pyre

He stood and tied his cup in place
And ran his hand over his face
Then slowly kicked the pile of earth
Over the flames , he showed no mirth

Today they ride into the fray
A battle there to join this day
The thunder that he heard became
The sound of cannon shooting flame

So with a weary walk he strode
Out to the mare with heavy load
He brushed her once again with care
And quickly saddled up the mare

"Today I need your help again
To kill my fellow man and then
If we are blessed , then we return
To once more watch the fire burn "

"And if I fall this day I ask
That you but grant this simple task
From off the battlefield do flee
And run someplace where you'll be free "

The look she gave him seemed to say
That he had best not fall this day
For if she had to flee from him
Her eyes would be forever dim

So with a final tug , he tied
The saddle to the mare and sighed
The bridle he was quick to slip
Between the teeth over the lip

The martingale he then secured
And grabbed the reins without a word
Then swinging up into the seat
He turned his steed their fate to meet

He moved on up into the line
The cavalry , they looked so fine
And smartly they stepped out apace
To victory , or end the race



Evening

In line of battle , facing front
Three hundred stood to take the brunt
From shot and shell , and Minnie ball
Many a man and horse would fall

The soldier sat there nervously
His sweaty hand upon his knee
His other running through her mane
While random thoughts ran through his brain

Until his sergeant called to him
To "Look alive there trooper Jim
We cannot have your thoughts astray
If we are but to win this day "

A silent nod was all he gave
And to himself he said , be brave
He gathered both the reins to him
And pulled his cap down by the brim

He had no girl to call his own
No earthly love he'd ever known
No one did ever really care
No one that is except the mare

And as they stepped out on the field
Their cry , "Advance and never yield"
Was heard by all across the green
A grander sight was never seen

They slowly rode across the grass
Twelve hundred hooves did quickly pass
Into a sound heard all before
The sound of thunder's rolling roar

Most of the way , they kept the speed
But Angeline soon took the lead
Ahead of all the rest she rode
As cannon did expel their load

Then Jim did feel a bullet hit
His shoulder and his teeth did grit
Another threw him to the ground
He hit with such an awful sound

Then Angeline was standing there
She nuzzled softly at his hair
And smiled at him with such sweet love
As death rained down from up above



Night

"Sweet Angeline , please leave me here
Or you will join me soon I fear
I cannot bear to see you hurt
Or see your blood spilled in the dirt "

She never even moved an ear
Or acted as if she did hear
Except to smell and lick his face
Which caused his heart to speed and race

"My Angeline , you cannot stay
For death is coming fast this day "
Then with a wailing shout he cried
As several bullets hit her side

Her smile , it never left her face
As slowly , she did fall in place
An anguished cry then came from him
While through the tears his sight grew dim

With broken back and eyes a blur
He somehow made his way to her
And as his hand did touch her side
The world exploded , and they died

His thoughts and everything went black
And as for time , he did lose track
Till slowly did his sight return
And in his eyes the tears did burn

Then blinking back them rapidly
Sweet Angeline , he then did see
Surrounded by a soft white glow
A startled whinny he did blow

Surprised , he turned his head to look
And there a horse's tail he shook
He looked upon the mare divine
"Oh yes my love , you are equine "

"Dear that is why I came to you
And worked our love until it grew
For you were never one of them
But true equine , beloved Jim "

"So follow me into the sun
Forever side by side we'll run "
"Lead on , my Angeline , my dove "
And off they ran , two souls in love .



Whysper