I have been exhausted beyond what I thought possible.
Marched straight at thousands of muskets aimed at my chest.
Been sprayed with brain, blood and bone.
Been hungry my god so hungry.
Been desperate to kill a man so he don’t kill me
looked straight into his eyes.
Been so scared been so sad that Hennesey boy…
Saw the trees whittled to twigs by musket ball
heard the screams of wounded and dying men.
Smelled a thousand putrid smells.
Dug trenches sweating so tired
marched and marched bloody feet and sleeping standing up
then formed up and charged em watched the colors go down
stepped through red mud puddles no it was blood.
I can’t stand it no more Mr. Lincoln please call it off.
Please Mr. Lincoln.
Now all is deathly quiet save for the locusts
I scream, but no sound comes from my mouth.
General Grant has become a statue
did he turn and look at Sodom?
The bloated bodies and the stench is gone
half naked people wander around and murmur
looking at pieces of paper.
Is this Hell, Emily?
Did Ol’ Stonewall get his way?
Oh Emily, save me please
I didn’t sign up for this
I didn’t know anything at all
when I so gleefully marched off singing
and the brass band played a patriotic song
you kissing me and giving me sandwiches
with Mayor Thompson leading the way
I’ll see you in a little while my love, I said
this won’t take long.
Yes, I guess Jackson got his way
there are trees now and it’s peaceful again
the field where I fell gleams with memory
I am all alone.
So now…What am I Emily
but a misty emotion stolid and unmoving
and where are you where are you?
I can’t stop aching, Emily, I can’t stop aching.
Save me, please.
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