Panama and Other Poems Narrative and Occasional By Stephen Phillips: With a Frontispiece by Joseph Pennell |
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WOMEN AND WAR |
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WOMEN AND WAR
Women of England, yours how hard the task,Service from you how difficult we ask!
Glorious to stand against the leaden hail,
In the mown war-line not to flinch or fail!
Splendid the onrush and the charging cheer,
Yet glorious too to check the coming tear.
The doubt by night to stifle, through the day
The deep alarm not outwardly betray.
O dull expectancy that finds not vent!
O silent anguish that will not lament!
O mad uncertainty from dawn to eve!
O worse to wait than battle to receive!
Heroes are ye, who but the sob repress,
Your victory dumb is victory no less!
August, 1914.
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