Page:A treasury of war poetry, British and American poems of the world war, 1914-1919.djvu/257

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Earth that blossomed and was glad

'Neath the cross that Christ had,

Shall rejoice and blossom too

When the bullet reaches you.

Wherefore, men marching

On the road to death, sing!

Pour your gladness on earth's head,

So be merry, so be dead.

From the hills and valleys earth

Shouts back the sound of mirth,

Tramp of feet and lilt of song

Ringing all the road along.

All the music of their going,

Ringing, swinging, glad song-throwing,

Earth will echo still, when foot

Lies numb and voice mute.

On, marching men, on

To the gates of death with song.

Sow your gladness for earth's reaping,

So you may be glad, though sleeping.

Strew your gladness on earth's bed,

So be merry, so be dead. Charles Hamilton Sorley

HIS will I do when we have peace again,

Peace and return, to ease my heart of pain.

Crouched in the brittle reed-beds, wrapt in grey,

I'll watch the dawning of the winter's day,

The peaceful, clinging darkness of the night

That mingles with mysterious morning light,

And graceful rushes melting in the haze;

While all around in winding waterways,

The wildfowl gabble cheerfully and low,

Or wheel with pulsing whistle to and fro,

Filling the silent down with joyous song,

Swelling and dying as they sweep along;