A Dead Hero Passes By Poem by TEZ WILL DONOVAN

Bang a drum and joyfully ring the bells
I knew him not, but others loved him well
Tell them he is now gone, forever gone
But together we will sing no sad songs
In passing there’s no place for wailing dirge
But only lusty hymns and odes of joy
And to those passive observers we urge
Here was yet another of England’s boys
So we must together stand, side by side
Although minds are numb we can sing, Abide
With Me, to a last parade resplendent
For he whose’ young life was all triumphant
With sad hearts, place Summer blooms on his mound
And for just a moment, we’ll make no sound