 | The Last Ballad and Other Poems |  |
95
BATTLE
The war of words is done;
The red-lipped cannon speak;
The battle has begun.
The red-lipped cannon speak;
The battle has begun.
The web your speeches spun
Tears and blood shall streak;
The war of words is done.
Tears and blood shall streak;
The war of words is done.
Smoke enshrouds the sun;
Earth staggers at the shriek
Of battle new begun.
Earth staggers at the shriek
Of battle new begun.
Poltroons and braggarts run:
Woe to the poor, the meek!
The war of words is done.
Woe to the poor, the meek!
The war of words is done.
96
“And hope not now to shun
The doom that dogs the weak,”
Thunders every gun;
The doom that dogs the weak,”
Thunders every gun;
“Victory must be won.”
When the red-lipped cannon speak,
The war of words is done,
The slaughter has begun.
When the red-lipped cannon speak,
The war of words is done,
The slaughter has begun.
| The Last Ballad and Other Poems | |