Page:A treasury of war poetry, British and American poems of the world war, 1914-1919.djvu/186

 186

But oh its leaves are fresh and green,

Why bring the holly berry?

Because it wears the red, red hue,

The colour to the season true,

When war must have his tribute due,

And only birds and babes and things unknowing

Can be merry.

So take away the mistletoe,

Yet keep the holly berry.

And shall we never see again

Aught but the holly berry?

Yes, after sacrifice sublime,

When rings some later Christmas chime,

When dawns the new and better time,

Not only birds and babes and things unknowing

Shall be merry,

But you shall see the mistletoe

Twined with the holly berry. W. H. Draper