The Bowman's Song. Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930). I. Patriotism. Bliss Carman, et al., eds. 1904. The World's Best Poetry. VIII. National Spirit

Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume VIII. National Spirit. 1904.

I. Patriotism

The Bowman’s Song

Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930)


From “The White Company” WHAT of the bow?
The bow was made in England:
Of true wood, of yew wood,
The wood of English bows;
So men who are free	5
Love the old yew-tree
And the land where the yew-tree grows.

What of the cord?
The cord was made in England:
A rough cord, a tough cord,	10
A cord that bowmen love;
So we ’ll drain our jacks
To the English flax
And the land where the hemp was wove.

What of the shaft?	15
The shaft was cut in England:
A long shaft, a strong shaft,
Barbed and trim and true;
So we ’ll drink all together
To the gray goose feather,	20
And the land where the gray goose flew.

What of the men?
The men were bred in England:
The bowman—the yeoman—
The lads of dale and fell.	25
Here ’s to you—and to you!
To the hearts that are true
And the land where the true hearts dwell.