Page:More songs by the fighting men, soldier poets, second series, 1917.djvu/104

More Songs by the Fighting Men Humbly, O England, we bring thee life in its folly-stained youth,

That which, it may be, has striven, but ever has slackened and tired;

The faltering, often deceived, to combat now for the Truth,

Dim-visioned, to smite for the morrow unknown but desired.

September, 1914.

Sailing for Flanders

O need any more the skies or man to importune

For us departing to-day with spirits at peace,

Now that the inner warfares, that tire men, cease—

For us the chosen of God's lot, the spoilt darlings of Fortune.

Against the beasts in men let loose from their cages

We go forth with a lightened and proud heart,

We who are the men summoned to a high part,

To be known of the envious youth of unborn ages.

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