 | Poems : medley and Palestina |  |
The Battalion.
A thousand strong we marched to battle;
The city roared around the host;
The tambours blared their vaunting rattle;
The bugles yelled their joyous boast.
The city roared around the host;
The tambours blared their vaunting rattle;
The bugles yelled their joyous boast.
No thought had we to die asunder,
Companions sworn, a brother throng;
We looked to sweep through battle's thunder
In mighty lines, a thousand strong.
Companions sworn, a brother throng;
We looked to sweep through battle's thunder
In mighty lines, a thousand strong.
But ah, the fever's poisoned arrow!
The jungle's breath! the summer's glow!
Our broad array grew swiftly narrow,
And scanty hundreds met the foe.
The jungle's breath! the summer's glow!
Our broad array grew swiftly narrow,
And scanty hundreds met the foe.
O fervid longings, thoughts and fancies
That tread the city of the soul,
How few of all your spirit-lances
Arrive where glory's trumpets roll!
That tread the city of the soul,
How few of all your spirit-lances
Arrive where glory's trumpets roll!
| Poems : medley and Palestina | |