Since we had always sky about,
when we had eagles they flew out
leaving no shadow bigger then wrens'
to trouble our most aeromantic hens.
Too busy bridging loneliness to be alone
we hacked in ties what Emily etched in bone.
We French, we English, never lost our civil war,
Endure it still, a bloodless civil bore;
No wounded lying about, no Whitman wanted.
It's only by our lack of ghosts we're haunted.

Author: Earle Birney