| |
| THE NAKED 1 earth is warm with Spring, | |
| And with green grass and bursting trees | |
| Leans to the sun’s gaze glorying, | |
| And quivers in the sunny breeze; | |
| |
| And life is Colour and Warmth and Light, | 5 |
| And a striving evermore for these; | |
| And he is dead who will not fight, | |
| And who dies fighting has increase. | |
| |
| The fighting man shall from the sun | |
| Take warmth, and life from the glowing earth; | 10 |
| Speed with the light-foot winds to run, | |
| And with the trees to newer birth; | |
| And find, when fighting shall be done, | |
| Great rest, and fullness after dearth. | |
| |
| All the bright company of Heaven | 15 |
| Hold him in their high comradeship, | |
| The Dog-star, and the Sisters Seven, | |
| Orion’s Belt and sworded hip. | |
| |
| The woodland trees that stand together, | |
| They stand to him each one a friend; | 20 |
| They gently speak in the windy weather; | |
| They guide to valley and ridge’s end. | |
| |
| The kestrel hovering by day, | |
| And the little owls that call by night, | |
| Bid him be swift and keen as they, | 25 |
| As keen of ear, as swift of sight. | |
| |
| The blackbird sings to him, ‘Brother, brother, | |
| If this be the last song you shall sing | |
| Sing well, for you may not sing another; | |
| Brother, sing.’ | 30 |
| |
| In dreary doubtful waiting hours, | |
| Before the brazen frenzy starts, | |
| The horses show him nobler powers;— | |
| O patient eyes, courageous hearts! | |
| |
| And when the burning moment breaks, | 35 |
| And all things else are out of mind, | |
| And only Joy of Battle takes | |
| Him by the throat and makes him blind, | |
| |
| Through joy and blindness he shall know, | |
| Not caring much to know, that still | 40 |
| Nor lead nor steel shall reach him, so | |
| That it be not the Destined Will. | |
| |
| The thundering line of battle stands, | |
| And in the air Death moans and sings; | |
| But Day shall clasp him with strong hands, | 45 |
| And Night shall fold him in soft wings. | |
