Page:Soldier poets, songs of the fighting men, 1916.djvu/95

Rh To raise a cheer we didn't dare

Although our blood was fire,

But waited for the signal word

That would not be "retire."

At last it came like liquid flame

And flooded down the trench.

"'C' Company, advance and charge!"

We gave our limbs a wrench,

And leaped upon the parapet

And flung a flaunting shout,

As though the fatal Fiends of War

Were boisterous and about.

Some furlongs four we had to run

And Hell did intervene;

A Death that rode invisible,

An Agony unseen.

At every step a comrade fell,

Nor face of foe we saw.

Fell young Lieutenant Anderson

And gallant Captain Shaw.

Yet on we rushed and never paused,

For death was in delay,

Yet nearer, nearer to our goal,

The debt of blood to pay, 91