Page:Poems of the Great War - Cunliffe.djvu/270

 244 CHARLES HAMILTON SO RLE Y

��Earth that bore with joyful ease Hemlock for Socrates, 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.

(Captain, Seventh (Service) Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment, killed in action in France on Oct. 13, 1915.)

�� �