Feinberg/Whitman Literary File Poetry File "Ashes of Roses." A.MS.drafts & notes Box 26 Folder 22 Published as "Ashes of Soldiers." See also Poetry File Decoration Day. A.MS.draft.Box 26 [434] 30 May Ashes of Roses: poem [*[?]*] A. MS. (2p. 23 1/2 x 13 1/2 and 10 x 13 1/2 cm.) Written in ink, with the title in blue pencil (added later?), on two strips of paper, one torn off at the bottom, 117 words: Decoration day May 30. ---------- Ashes of [Roses] [Hi????] ------------- The dust & debris below. in all the cemeteries not only in Virginia & Tennessee but all through the land The names of the flowers. lilacs the colors, purple & white [[*over]*] 435 earlt lilies [& red] & yellow & red-- --the graves-- Ashes of Armies The Unknown ? Army=Ashes. The dust of each mingling fused [all with] in the dust of each--(i.e. the rebel & the union) --Are we to have a National hymn by Centennial time? [clipping from newspaper] ? Ashes of Roses Dust of the dead-- ashes of blue & gray, --ashes of battle-pits, solemn & strange cement-- not a [field] crop grows hence in the field of north or south =[Not] Nor moisture of the river, nor falling rain ? Ashes of Roses Dust of the dead – ashes of blue & gray. – ashes of battle-pits. solemn & strange cement — not a [field] crop grows hence in the field, of north or south = [Not] Nor moisture of the river, nor falling rain Decoration Day May 30. Ashes of Roses The dust & debris below, in all the cemeteries not only in Virginia & Tennessee but all through the land The names of the flowers, lilacs the colors, roses purple & white early lilies [& red] & yellow & red— — the graves — Ashes of Armies The Unknown ? Army-Ashes, The dust of each [mingling] fused [all with] in the dust of each—(i. e. the rebel & the Union) —Are we to have a National Hy tennial time ? Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.