The hot contention of opposing fronts, the long manoeuvre,
Red battles with their slaughter, the stimulus, the strong terrific game,
Spell of all brave and manly hearts, the trains of time through you
and like of you all fill'd,
With war and war's expression.
Adieu dear comrade,
Your mission is fulfill'd—but I, more warlike,
Myself and this contentious soul of mine,
Still on our own campaigning bound,
Through untried roads with ambushes opponents lined,
Through many a sharp defeat and many a crisis, often baffled,
Here marching, ever marching on, a war fight out—aye here,
To fiercer, weightier battles give expression.
This last line of the poem, makes me feel as if he is leading the reader to imagine another battle coming up in the near future, making is seem that the reader needs to mentally prepare for it. Along with just winning a battle, i feel that Whitman wants to express the idea of the constant battling for ones personal freedom or point(s) of view. The repetitive marching is a simile for the constant battling/ war and desire to live a better life.
Adieu to a Soldier