Page:Poems of the Great War - Cunliffe.djvu/143

 Our retreat is stayed, and Frank and Briton,

Reinforced, leap forth to the attack — Now the smiter hip and thiijh is smitten ;

In defeat we roll him roii<::hly hack. Now again in anger dour he rallies.

And again assaults us flank and front ; ^^^lile his dead and ours o'er hills and valleys

ML\ amid the dreadful battle brunt. Up the slopes his batteries are crowning.

Foot by foot we dig our trenches in ; Rise and charge and seize his cannon frowning,

Though we fall in swaths one gun to win. Trusting sureh' that how oft soever

Back and forth War's crimson waves may flow. On our faithful, chivalrous endeavor

Victory's full-orbed sun at last shall glow.

— Alfred Perceval Graves.

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