Living

Riddle 45

by Carolyn Wells 1862–1942

From At the Sign of the Sphinx (Second Series)

Living

A soldier of the rebels lay dying in the field;
A brave but sturdy fighter, he could fall but could not yield.
But a comrade stood beside him while his life-blood trickled fast,
And bent, with pitying glances, to wrap him in my last,
Seeking his country’s glory, e’en in the cannon’s mouth.
Though in the midst of bloodshed, my first stood for the South.
The dying soldier faltered as he took his comrade’s hand,
Saying, “Make my whole, my brother, it is my last command.”

✦ ✦ ✦

Answer: ESCAPE

MLA

Wells, Carolyn. “Riddle 45.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/wells_c/162/.

Chicago

Wells, Carolyn. “Riddle 45.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/wells_c/162/.

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