Bless God, he went as soldiers

by Emily Dickinson

　　

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Emily Dickinson's most intense period of writing was during the Civil War. Though most of her works do not directly address it, there's no ambiguity in this poem's references. Published in her third series (1896), "XX" in the section, Time and Eternity.

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Bless God, he went as soldiers, His musket on his breast; Grant, God, he charge the bravest Of all the martial blest. Please God, might I behold him In epauletted white, I should not fear the foe then, I should not fear the fight.

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Featured in our collection of Poetry for the Well-Read Student and Civil War Stories.

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