Veterans Day, Clint Parkhurst & "The Eve of Corinth"

Graves at Corinth National Cemetery/Wikipedia

Purists scold sometimes on Veterans Day, pointing out (quite rightly) that it is a day set aside to honor all who have served in the U.S. military --- noting that Memorial Day is reserved for the dead.

As a Vietnam veteran, I've no particular interest in being honored --- but do think on both days about the horrors of war and our obligation to live honorably as a way to honor those who have given up their lives or their physical and mental wellbeing on our behalf in the course of this nation's history.

So I thought I'd share a scrap of old-fashioned poetry this morning, "On the Eve of Corinth," written by Clint Parkhurst (left), a talented but quixotic journalist, poet and author who wrote much, was published often, but made very little money and died in obscurity.  The poem is taken from his 1921 volume, still in print, "Songs of a Man who Failed."

Born during 1844 at LeClaire, Clint enlisted in Company C, 16th Iowa Volunteer Infantry during February of 1862 at the age of 17. A combat veteran of Shiloh, Corinth and many other battles and campaigns, he was captured with much of his unit near Atlanta late in the war and imprisoned at Andersonville.

Returning home to Iowa in 1865, he launched a career in journalism that took him up and down Iowa's Mississippi coast before he headed inland to Chariton during October of 1870, age 26, as partner and co-publisher with John V. Faith of The Chariton Democrat.

This was not a match made in printshop heaven and the partnership ended during the spring of 1871 when Clint headed for Chicago. John and Clint did not part as friends.

Clint never settled down, but roamed the nation and the world, observing, reporting, writing, publishing and then moving on. The Iowa Veterans Home at Marshalltown became a refuge for him during later years on more than one occasion --- and he died there on Nov. 16, 1933, age 88, and was buried in the home's cemetery.

"On the Eve of Cornith" commemorates one of Clint's battles --- fought during October of 1862 at Corinth, Mississippi. The Union dead numbered 2,360. Confederate losses were estimated at 4,800.

EVE BEFORE CORINTH

"Rouse up the soldier ere the morning star."

Soldier, sleep! for the dawn will bring

Roll of drums and thunder of strife.

Missiles of death on viewless wing,

Will hiss in hate where slaughter is rife ---

Where bullet and shell and shrapnel sing,

And cheers of stormers on hilltops ring,

And war-dogs bay for the soldier's life.

Soldier, dream --- O dream of the day

When rumble of strife is heard no more;

When hosts of war have melted away,

And cannons have ceased their murderous play

And volleys have lost their terrible roar.

Dream of scenes you have left for aye,

For morn will bring your very last day;

The grave awaits when battle is o'er.