| Robert Graves (1895–1985). Fairies and Fusiliers. 1918. |
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| 3. To Lucasta on Going to the War—for the Fourth Time |
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| IT doesn’t matter what’s the cause, | |
| What wrong they say we’re righting, | |
| A curse for treaties, bonds and laws, | |
| When we’re to do the fighting! | |
| And since we lads are proud and true, | 5 |
| What else remains to do? | |
| Lucasta, when to France your man | |
| Returns his fourth time, hating war, | |
| Yet laughs as calmly as he can | |
| And flings an oath, but says no more, | 10 |
| That is not courage, that’s not fear— | |
| Lucasta he’s a Fusilier, | |
| And his pride sends him here. | |
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| Let statesmen bluster, bark and bray, | |
| And so decide who started | 15 |
| This bloody war, and who’s to pay, | |
| But he must be stout-hearted, | |
| Must sit and stake with quiet breath, | |
| Playing at cards with Death. | |
| Don’t plume yourself he fights for you; | 20 |
| It is no courage, love, or hate, | |
| But let us do the things we do; | |
| It’s pride that makes the heart be great; | |
| It is not anger, no, nor fear— | |
| Lucasta he’s a Fusilier, | 25 |
| And his pride keeps him here. | |
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