| Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). Poetry: A Magazine of Verse. 1912–22. | | | | Song of the Cossack | | By Florence Randal Livesay |
| | From “Slavic Songs”
HEAVILY hangs the rye | |
| Bent to the trampled ground; | |
| While brave men fighting die | |
| Through blood the horses bound. | |
| |
| Under the white-stemmed tree | 5 |
| A Cossack bold is slain— | |
| They lift him tenderly | |
| Into the ruined grain. | |
| |
| Someone has borne him there, | |
| Someone has put in place | 10 |
| A scarlet cloth, with prayer, | |
| Over the up-turned face. | |
| |
| Softly a girl has come— | |
| Dove-like she looks; all gray— | |
| Stares at the soldier dumb | 15 |
| And, crying, goes away. | |
| |
| Then, swift, another maid— | |
| Ah, how unlike she is!— | |
| With grief and passion swayed | |
| Gives him her farewell kiss. | 20 |
| |
| The third one does not cry, | |
| Caresses none has she; | |
| “Three girls thy love flung by— | |
| Death rightly came to thee!” | | | | |
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