Page:Soldier poets, songs of the fighting men, 1916.djvu/49

Rh "Without Shedding of Blood . . ."

OD gave us England from of old,

But we held light the gift He gave;

Our royal birthright we have sold,

And now the land we lost for gold

Only our blood can save.

Not till thousands have been slain

Shall the green wood be green again;

Not till men shall fall and bleed

Can brown ale taste like ale indeed.

Blood and blood must yet be shed

To make the roses red.

For minds made vile, and blind with greed,

For sins that spread from sire to son;

For loss of honour, loss of creed,

There yet remains one cure indeed—

And there remains but one.

Malvern men must die and kill

That wind may blow on Malvern Hill;

Devonshire blood must fall like dew

That Devon's bays may yet be blue;

London must spill out lives like wine

That London's lights may shine.

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