Grade 6: "The Blue and the Gray" by Francis Miles Finch

Two years after the end of the American Civil War, Francis Miles Finch published this poem, inspired by stories of women laying flowers on the graves of the fallen on both sides. It became a powerful symbol of national healing.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. whence
    from what place, source, or cause
    By the flow of the inland river,
    Whence the fleets of iron have fled,
    Where the blades of the grave-grass quiver,
    Asleep are the ranks of the dead:
    Under the sod and the dew,
    Waiting the judgment-day;
    Under the one, the Blue,
    Under the other, the Gray.
  2. fleet
    a group of warships organized as a tactical unit
    By the flow of the inland river,
    Whence the fleets of iron have fled,
    Where the blades of the grave-grass quiver,
    Asleep are the ranks of the dead:
    Under the sod and the dew,
    Waiting the judgment-day;
    Under the one, the Blue,
    Under the other, the Gray.
  3. rank
    a row or line of people standing side by side
    By the flow of the inland river,
    Whence the fleets of iron have fled,
    Where the blades of the grave-grass quiver,
    Asleep are the ranks of the dead:
    Under the sod and the dew,
    Waiting the judgment-day;
    Under the one, the Blue,
    Under the other, the Gray.
  4. sod
    surface layer of ground containing a mat of grass and roots
    By the flow of the inland river,
    Whence the fleets of iron have fled,
    Where the blades of the grave-grass quiver,
    Asleep are the ranks of the dead:
    Under the sod and the dew,
    Waiting the judgment-day;
    Under the one, the Blue,
    Under the other, the Gray.
  5. gloom
    an atmosphere of depression and sadness
    These in the robings of glory,
    Those in the gloom of defeat,
    All with the battle-blood gory,
    In the dusk of eternity meet:
    Under the sod and the dew,
    Waiting the judgment-day,
    Under the laurel, the Blue,
    Under the willow, the Gray.
  6. gory
    covered with blood
    These in the robings of glory,
    Those in the gloom of defeat,
    All with the battle-blood gory,
    In the dusk of eternity meet:
    Under the sod and the dew,
    Waiting the judgment-day,
    Under the laurel, the Blue,
    Under the willow, the Gray.
  7. willow
    a tree that typically grows near water and has narrow leaves
    These in the robings of glory,
    Those in the gloom of defeat,
    All with the battle-blood gory,
    In the dusk of eternity meet:
    Under the sod and the dew,
    Waiting the judgment-day,
    Under the laurel, the Blue,
    Under the willow, the Gray.
  8. sorrowful
    experiencing or marked by or expressing sadness
    From the silence of sorrowful hours
    The desolate mourners go,
    Lovingly laden with flowers
    Alike for the friend and the foe:
    Under the sod and the dew,
    Waiting the judgment-day,
    Under the roses, the Blue,
    Under the lilies, the Gray.
  9. desolate
    crushed by grief
    From the silence of sorrowful hours
    The desolate mourners go,
    Lovingly laden with flowers
    Alike for the friend and the foe:
    Under the sod and the dew,
    Waiting the judgment-day,
    Under the roses, the Blue,
    Under the lilies, the Gray.
  10. laden
    filled with a great quantity
    From the silence of sorrowful hours
    The desolate mourners go,
    Lovingly laden with flowers
    Alike for the friend and the foe:
    Under the sod and the dew,
    Waiting the judgment-day,
    Under the roses, the Blue,
    Under the lilies, the Gray.
  11. foe
    a personal enemy
    From the silence of sorrowful hours
    The desolate mourners go,
    Lovingly laden with flowers
    Alike for the friend and the foe:
    Under the sod and the dew,
    Waiting the judgment-day,
    Under the roses, the Blue,
    Under the lilies, the Gray.
  12. splendor
    a quality that outshines the usual
    So, with an equal splendor,
    The morning sun-rays fall,
    With a touch impartially tender,
    On the blossoms blooming for all:
    Under the sod and the dew,
    Waiting the judgment-day,
    Broidered with gold, the Blue,
    Mellowed with gold, the Gray.
  13. mellow
    soften
    So, with an equal splendor,
    The morning sun-rays fall,
    With a touch impartially tender,
    On the blossoms blooming for all:
    Under the sod and the dew,
    Waiting the judgment-day,
    Broidered with gold, the Blue,
    Mellowed with gold, the Gray.
  14. upbraid
    express criticism towards
    Sadly, but not with upbraiding,
    The generous deed was done,
    In the storm of the years that are fading
    No braver battle was won:
    Under the sod and the dew,
    Waiting the judgment-day,
    Under the blossoms, the Blue,
    Under the garlands, the Gray.
  15. sever
    set or keep apart
    No more shall the war cry sever,
    Or the winding rivers be red;
    They banish our anger forever
    When they laurel the graves of our dead!
Created on Thu Mar 26 13:43:35 EDT 2026 (updated Wed Apr 08 13:08:41 EDT 2026)

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