The Last Photograph, April 9, 1865: A Poem about Abraham Lincoln

A couple of months ago, I posted an entry about a poem written by Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Horgan about Abraham Lincoln, from his book Songs After Lincoln.

 Today, I feature another selection from this book, this one from pages 63 and 64, entitled "The Last Photograph, April 9, 1865."

From within his countenance

The weariness of war

Had made its withering advance

Hour after hour

All throughout those four years

Which bowed him as he grew, 

And turned the error of his fears

Into the lasting true.

It was like a runnelled hill, 

His face, and in his eyes

Lngered all the dying, till

Life seemed a stale surrise.

And then war's end, at last in view,

Erased death from his face,

And those who saw him lived anew,

And shared his autumn peace,

And thought how Indian Summer dweled

Hazy after frost, 

And how the bounty of its yield

Was worthy of its cost.