A Dead Man

John Boyle O'Reilly

1844 to 1890

Poem Image

The Trapper died—our hero—and we grieved; 
In every heart in camp the sorrow stirred. 
"His soul was red!" the Indian cried, bereaved; 
"A white man, he!" the grim old Yankee's word. 

So, brief and strong, each mourner gave his best— 
How. kind he was, how brave, how keen to track; 
And as we laid him by the pines to rest, 
A negro spoke, with tears: "His heart was black!"