Edmund Clarence Stedman

W. W.

⁠⁠          Good-bye, Walt!
Good-bye, from all you loved of earth—
Rock, tree, dumb creature, man and woman—
     ⁠To you, their comrade human.
⁠⁠          The last assault
Ends now; and now in some great world has birth
A minstrel, whose strong soul finds broader wings,
     ⁠More brave imaginings.
Stars crown the hilltop where your dust shall lie,
     ⁠Even as we say good-bye,
           ⁠⁠Good-bye, old Walt!