and the Civil War
Read the poem.
Read the lines from "Vigil Strange I kept on the Field One Night."
Vigil Strange I kept on the Field One Night
from Drum-Taps
by Walt Whitman
And there and then and bathed by the rising sun, my son in his
grave, in his rude-dug grave i deposited,
What does the use of the phrase "rude-dug grave" suggest?
O
The speaker's behavior does not reflect behavior
becoming a soldier
The speaker digs the grave carelessly and with little
skill.
O
Vigil strange I kept on the field one night;
When you my son and my comrade dropt at my side that day,
One look I but gave which your dear eyes return'd with a look!
shall never forget,
One touch of your hand to mine O boy, reach'd up as you lay on
the ground,
Then onward I sped in the battle, the even-contested battle,
Till late in the night reliev'd to the place at last again I made my
way.
Found you in death so cold dear comrade, found your body son of
responding kisses, (never again on earth responding.)
Bared your face in the starlight, curious the scene, cool blew the
moderate night-wind,
Long there and then in vigill stood, dimly around me the
battle-field spreading,
Vigil wondrous and vigil sweet there in the fragrant silent night,
But not a tear fell, not even a long-drawn sigh, long, long I gazed,
The speaker does not have the time or the tools to dig
a proper grave.
The speaker's actions are disrespectful of his fellow
soldier.
