 | English Roses |  |
WILD OATS.
The night was dark as the darkest hell,
But his heart it throbbed like a marriage bell—
Hurrah!
For he saw his duty and did it well,
Where the red ground reeked as the harvest fell—
Hurrah!
But his heart it throbbed like a marriage bell—
Hurrah!
For he saw his duty and did it well,
Where the red ground reeked as the harvest fell—
Hurrah!
He had chosen it all of his own free will,
To spike the gun and its iron ill—
Hurrah!
Which of awful death had drunk its fill,
And was belching doom and murder still—
Hurrah!
To spike the gun and its iron ill—
Hurrah!
Which of awful death had drunk its fill,
And was belching doom and murder still—
Hurrah!
He had lost his fortune and fame, and now
There was grim resolve on the wrinkled brow—
Hurrah!
And his breast was stirred with a fiery vow,
If he broke yet his purpose would not bow—
Hurrah!
There was grim resolve on the wrinkled brow—
Hurrah!
208
If he broke yet his purpose would not bow—
Hurrah!
He was merely a wreck and a ruined man,
Till their beamed in his soul a broader plan—
Hurrah!
By a road that through splendid danger ran,
And the drum-beat of true life began—
Hurrah!
Till their beamed in his soul a broader plan—
Hurrah!
By a road that through splendid danger ran,
And the drum-beat of true life began—
Hurrah!
For the steadfast nerves were as tense as steel,
And the conquered vices crouched at heel—
Hurrah!
And he only longed for the battle reel
Where blow meets blow, and the vanquished kneel—
Hurrah!
And the conquered vices crouched at heel—
Hurrah!
And he only longed for the battle reel
Where blow meets blow, and the vanquished kneel—
Hurrah!
He could share with none the doubtful deed,
And the dreadful joy that had given him speed—
Hurrah!
He must stand alone in his desperate need,
And of flame reforge his soldier's creed—
Hurrah!
And the dreadful joy that had given him speed—
Hurrah!
He must stand alone in his desperate need,
And of flame reforge his soldier's creed—
Hurrah!
And its youth returned to the ready hand,
He was clothed in the glory of his land—
Hurrah!
O it brightened every evil brand,
And his look had the lightning of command—
Hurrah!
He was clothed in the glory of his land—
Hurrah!
O it brightened every evil brand,
And his look had the lightning of command—
Hurrah!
In a smother of smoke, in a blaze of fire
Which wrapped him round in a warrior's tire—
Hurrah!
With the jewels none may get for hire,
He drew to the goal of his grand desire—
Hurrah!
Which wrapped him round in a warrior's tire—
Hurrah!
With the jewels none may get for hire,
He drew to the goal of his grand desire—
Hurrah!
There was riving flesh, with the feint and thrust,
And those demon figures laid in dust—
Hurrah!
With a strong straight point and a simple trust
In the Lord of Hosts, and a quarrel just—
Hurrah!
And those demon figures laid in dust—
Hurrah!
209
In the Lord of Hosts, and a quarrel just—
Hurrah!
There were shouts and curses and singing lead,
And a lane between dying forms and dead—
Hurrah!
With the crimson sweat so freely shed,
And the onward one predetermined tread—
Hurrah!
And a lane between dying forms and dead—
Hurrah!
With the crimson sweat so freely shed,
And the onward one predetermined tread—
Hurrah!
And no sense of pain or a single fear,
But a sound of thunder in his ear—
Hurrah!
As if earth and heaven at last were near,
And a wandering soul to God made dear—
Hurrah!
But a sound of thunder in his ear—
Hurrah!
As if earth and heaven at last were near,
And a wandering soul to God made dear—
Hurrah!
He will wash with blood the accusing stains,
And burst in fight the prisoner's chains—
Hurrah!
And delight in wounds and count them gains,
Be it life or death that the hour ordains—
Hurrah!
And burst in fight the prisoner's chains—
Hurrah!
And delight in wounds and count them gains,
Be it life or death that the hour ordains—
Hurrah!
So he spiked the gun before dawn of day,
And to victory thus he led the way—
Hurrah!
Which over his bleeding body lay,
And kept an upheaving world at bay—
Hurrah!
And to victory thus he led the way—
Hurrah!
Which over his bleeding body lay,
And kept an upheaving world at bay—
Hurrah!
| English Roses | |