Page:Soldier poets, songs of the fighting men, 1916.djvu/100

Rh At Dawn in France

IGHT on the plains, and the stars unfold

The cycle of night in splendour old;

The winds are hushed, on the fire-swept hill

All is silent, shadowy, still—

Silent, yet tense as a harp high-strung

By a master bard for deeds unsung.

Slowly across the shadowy night

Tremble the shimmering wings of light,

And men with vigil in their eyes

And a fever light that never dies—

Men from the city, hamlet, town,

Once white faces tanned to brown,—

Stand to the watch of the parapet

And watch, with rifles, bayonets set,

For the great unknown that comes to men

Swift as the light: sudden, then—

Dawn! the light from its shimmering wings

Lights up their faces with strange, strange things:

Strange thoughts of love, of death and life,

Serenity 'mid sanguine strife:—

Dreams of life where the feet of youth

Rush to the pinnacles of Truth;

Where early dreams with pinions fleet

Rush to find a love complete; 96