Page:Poems of the Great War - Cunliffe.djvu/98

 72 CHARLOTTE HOLMES CRAWFORD

��VIVE LA FRANCE!

Franceline rose in the dawning gray, And her heart would dance though she knelt to pray, For her man Michel had holiday. Fighting for France.

She offered her prayer by the cradle-side, And with baby palms folded in hers she cried : " If I have but one prayer, dear, crucified Christ — save France !

"But if I have two, then, by Mary's grace. Carry me safe to the meeting place. Let me look once again on my dear love's face. Save him for France !"

She crooned to her boy : "Oh, how glad he'll be. Little three-months old, to set eyes on thee ! For, ' Rather than gold, would I give,' wrote he, 'A son to France.'

" Come, now, be good, little stray sauterelle, For we're going by-by to thy papa Michel, But I'll not say where for fear thou wilt tell. Little pigeon of France !

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