Alan Seeger Poem by Francis Duggan

He died in battle in World War 1 in Belloy En Santerre thousands of miles away
From his home city of New York in the U S of A
Like a true soldier under fire back in nineteen sixteen
In his twenty eight year and perhaps his better days he had not seen.

He had his rendezvous with death that he had written about
And though his value as a poet will never be in doubt
'Twould seem to me he was more value alive than giving his life in war
In the killing fields of Europe from his Homeland afar.

In Greeenwich Village he led a Bohemian lifestyle and to poetry he was inspired
But of his unconventional existence he very quickly tired
The spirit of adventure it carried him far from his home
For to die at the hands of one to him who was not known.

He had his rendezvous with death and for him his written prophecy came true
For he went off to fight in war as many young men do
And he died far from his Homeland so gallant and so young
But his best poems are living on and songs of him are sung.