 | Russia Re-Born |  |
Russia Re-born.
Hark! There is thunder above the din of battle,
A throb of sound thro' the tumult of the sea,
Trembling of earth amid the roar and rattle
Where men lie as green fruit shaken from the tree.
A throb of sound thro' the tumult of the sea,
Trembling of earth amid the roar and rattle
Where men lie as green fruit shaken from the tree.
A noise as of earthquake from the Northward sounding,
Loud, as in ruin an iceberg toppling falls,
Loud, as an avalanche awful and astounding
Roars in cataract down the mountain walls.
Loud, as in ruin an iceberg toppling falls,
Loud, as an avalanche awful and astounding
Roars in cataract down the mountain walls.
A throne has fallen, an Empire is shaken,
And kingdoms tremble from the mountain to the main.
A multitude, slow from slumber to awaken,
Stirs huge limbs yet stiffened from the chain.
And kingdoms tremble from the mountain to the main.
A multitude, slow from slumber to awaken,
Stirs huge limbs yet stiffened from the chain.
8
The long night is waning; the day dawns, ending
The sighing of the prisoner, the groaning of the slave.
The bands of iron break, the walls of brass are rending,
When the People arises resistless as a wave.
The sighing of the prisoner, the groaning of the slave.
The bands of iron break, the walls of brass are rending,
When the People arises resistless as a wave.
There is heaving as of earthquake; a giant strength is turning,
Struggling to freedom thro' earth piled deep above.
There are flames as of Etna, for fires long pent are burning,
And the surge of the lava o'erwhelms the fields of love.
Struggling to freedom thro' earth piled deep above.
There are flames as of Etna, for fires long pent are burning,
And the surge of the lava o'erwhelms the fields of love.
Look to the North! The Northern night is breaking.
Look to the East! The Eastern day begins.
Thrones are tottering, Tyrannies are quaking,
Vainly repentant of unforgiven sins.
Look to the East! The Eastern day begins.
Thrones are tottering, Tyrannies are quaking,
Vainly repentant of unforgiven sins.
9
Look to the North, where Freedom, long in labour,
Brings to the birth a Nation born anew!
Million-handed for the sickle or the sabre,
Million-voiced, to claim the birthright due.
Brings to the birth a Nation born anew!
Million-handed for the sickle or the sabre,
Million-voiced, to claim the birthright due.
Look to the East, where the hosts of the Oppressor
Are scourged and driven from the garden of the Lord!
Trampler of Man's law, of God's law transgressor,
With foul fierce gospel of the Harem and the sword.
Are scourged and driven from the garden of the Lord!
Trampler of Man's law, of God's law transgressor,
With foul fierce gospel of the Harem and the sword.
Light, light at last! And all the waves of ocean
To Eastward and Westward are crested with the ray.
Tidings of hope! And the night-psalm of devotion
Changes to lauds on the lips of them that pray.
To Eastward and Westward are crested with the ray.
Tidings of hope! And the night-psalm of devotion
Changes to lauds on the lips of them that pray.
Send out the message to those who man the trenches!
Flash forth the word to those who watch at sea!
Above the battle-roar, above the brine that drenches,
Above the groan of anguish the shout of joy shall be.
Flash forth the word to those who watch at sea!
10
Above the groan of anguish the shout of joy shall be.
Cry, cry aloud in the hearing of the foemen!
Wave the new banner that blazons Freedom's name!
To us name of victory, to them name of omen,
The name that kindles the nations as a flame.
Wave the new banner that blazons Freedom's name!
To us name of victory, to them name of omen,
The name that kindles the nations as a flame.
Freedom, whose title is greater than our praises,
Freedom, whose music is sweeter than our songs;
Star of the East, to which the whole world gazes,
Law of the Heaven, to which the whole world longs.
Freedom, whose music is sweeter than our songs;
Star of the East, to which the whole world gazes,
Law of the Heaven, to which the whole world longs.
Aye, we have heard, our fathers too have told us,
How at that name the thrones of earth were thrilled,
Thrilled and shaken the powers that bought and sold us,
The sceptred Tyrannies with fear and trembling filled.
How at that name the thrones of earth were thrilled,
Thrilled and shaken the powers that bought and sold us,
The sceptred Tyrannies with fear and trembling filled.
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Long, long delaying, as morning slow in breaking,
Bright on the summit but darkling in the vale;
The soul long enslaved, shall it not be slow in waking?
The heart long in prison, shall it not quake and quail?
Bright on the summit but darkling in the vale;
The soul long enslaved, shall it not be slow in waking?
The heart long in prison, shall it not quake and quail?
Nay, though it stay, the noon comes brightly gleaming;
Nay, though it linger, the summer breaks at last.
Above lies the snow, but below the earth is teeming;
The babe unseen in the bosom waxes fast.
Nay, though it linger, the summer breaks at last.
Above lies the snow, but below the earth is teeming;
The babe unseen in the bosom waxes fast.
And thou, great Eagle, whose home is 'twixt the oceans,
The twain world-waters to Eastward and to West,
Watching o'er-long our wars and wild commotions,
Thou to whom Freedom was nursling of the breast!
The twain world-waters to Eastward and to West,
Watching o'er-long our wars and wild commotions,
Thou to whom Freedom was nursling of the breast!
12
Hail now the new-born! Haste to the baptizing!
Aye, tho' in blood must the sign of faith be made!
Strong from the cradle behold the babe arising
To strangle the serpents! Oh, haste, too long delayed!
Aye, tho' in blood must the sign of faith be made!
Strong from the cradle behold the babe arising
To strangle the serpents! Oh, haste, too long delayed!
Tremble ye, tremble ye, Tyrannies, Oppressions,
Slaveries, Terrors, Powers of the sword!
Who now will plead for you, who make intercessions,
When the wrath of the People is the judgment of the Lord?
Slaveries, Terrors, Powers of the sword!
Who now will plead for you, who make intercessions,
When the wrath of the People is the judgment of the Lord?
Make strong your fortresses, high your fencèd cities!
Marshal by millions your unrebellious slaves!
There are more against you, sorrows, sanctions, pities,
Souls of the slain arising from their graves.
Marshal by millions your unrebellious slaves!
There are more against you, sorrows, sanctions, pities,
Souls of the slain arising from their graves.
13
Fling your crowns from you! That shall not avail you.
Flee from your thrones! No help shall lie that way.
Though ye fall to prayer, the gods ye serve shall fail you,
What time the trumpet sounds proclaiming Judgment Day.
Flee from your thrones! No help shall lie that way.
Though ye fall to prayer, the gods ye serve shall fail you,
What time the trumpet sounds proclaiming Judgment Day.
Fight, fight on, ye men of might and glory,
Ye who laugh in Death's face, with life held out in hand,
Glorious as those who fought in ancient story
For the hope of the Cross and the help of Holy Land!
Ye who laugh in Death's face, with life held out in hand,
Glorious as those who fought in ancient story
For the hope of the Cross and the help of Holy Land!
Fight, fight on, ye souls of deathless daring,
Day and night bearing the danger of the sea,
Glorious as those who in days of old sea-faring
Fought wolf and sea-wolf to set the sea-wave free!
Day and night bearing the danger of the sea,
Glorious as those who in days of old sea-faring
Fought wolf and sea-wolf to set the sea-wave free!
14
Stout hearts and stalwart, weary not nor weaken,
Fierce though the strife be, and far away the goal!
It shines, it shines, a golden-flaming beacon,
A lamp to the feet and a signal to the soul.
Fierce though the strife be, and far away the goal!
It shines, it shines, a golden-flaming beacon,
A lamp to the feet and a signal to the soul.
Hear, ye free People, the voice of all free nations
Lifted in gladness of the sister latest born!
Join the great company with songs and aspirations
Marching to meet the new triumphal Morn!
Lifted in gladness of the sister latest born!
Join the great company with songs and aspirations
Marching to meet the new triumphal Morn!
Behold her, behold her, simple-souled and tender,
With brow unadorned, new-lightened of the crown!
But faith upon her forehead is as a stone of splendour,
And joy in her eyes as a jewel of renown.
With brow unadorned, new-lightened of the crown!
But faith upon her forehead is as a stone of splendour,
And joy in her eyes as a jewel of renown.
15
Verdun.
O re-incarnate, O eternal France!
Glory of ages, ever born anew
One deathless spirit through the diverse years!
Glory of ages, ever born anew
One deathless spirit through the diverse years!
We who have loved thee through thy best, thy worst,
Seeing the soul hid deep in desperate eyes,
Thy Heav'n-born soul no devils could bear down:
Seeing the soul hid deep in desperate eyes,
Thy Heav'n-born soul no devils could bear down:
We who have waited through thy long eclipse,
Hungering as men who hunger for the day
For thy sweet looks to lighten earth again:
Hungering as men who hunger for the day
For thy sweet looks to lighten earth again:
With shining eyes we stand, and hearts that bleed,
'Twixt joy and ruth divided, all in pride
That France, sore wounded, yet is France again.
'Twixt joy and ruth divided, all in pride
That France, sore wounded, yet is France again.
Oh, may thine hand with England's evermore
Be clasped! Thy heart with England's beat as one!
Thy soul, with England's knit, re-make the world!
Be clasped! Thy heart with England's beat as one!
Thy soul, with England's knit, re-make the world!
16
L'Eternelle France.
O France, fair France,
Thorough change or chance
Thou art still the world's desire!
Still, still thy name
Sets love aflame,
And chivalry on fire!
Thorough change or chance
Thou art still the world's desire!
Still, still thy name
Sets love aflame,
And chivalry on fire!
Thy forty years
Of vigil and tears
Were furnace fires to anneal;
And the felon stroke,
Foul-falling, broke
On thy long-tempered steel.
Of vigil and tears
Were furnace fires to anneal;
And the felon stroke,
Foul-falling, broke
On thy long-tempered steel.
The lilies wake;
The banners shake
That shone 'neath glorious suns.
Thy ghosts of pride
Arise and ride
With thy new-famous ones.
The banners shake
That shone 'neath glorious suns.
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Arise and ride
With thy new-famous ones.
Not vain nor lost
Is the holocaust
Of life in the battle flung!
Thou hast bathed in the flood
Of thy children's blood
To emerge immortal and young.
Is the holocaust
Of life in the battle flung!
Thou hast bathed in the flood
Of thy children's blood
To emerge immortal and young.
18
Edith Cavell.
No more the day hangs doubtful; a light thingFlung in the balance shows the issue sure—
A woman's life! The scale long wavering
Dips from to-day, and Justice waits secure.
That flash was as the flash of Judgment Day;
That shot was as the signal of the Doom,
Opening all eyes to see in set array
The Good, the Evil, battling in the gloom.
Aye, there are many righteous with our foes,
With us are many sinners. But the Cause
Not by the individual soul is weighed.
These—set on Justice' side—serve God; and those—
Breaking in Duty's name all Heaven's laws—
The Devil, in this murder self-betrayed.
19
The Nameless Laurel.
O hero unrecorded!
O Victor unrewarded!
O Conqueror uncrowned!
Thy fame should be undying;
And thou unknown art lying
Beneath a nameless mound!
O Victor unrewarded!
O Conqueror uncrowned!
Thy fame should be undying;
And thou unknown art lying
Beneath a nameless mound!
Mere earth in earth to perish,
No hero-name to cherish!
No story of thy deed!
Ours is the harvest golden,
While lost and unbeholden
In darkness dies the seed.
No hero-name to cherish!
No story of thy deed!
Ours is the harvest golden,
While lost and unbeholden
In darkness dies the seed.
20
The Pledge.
Dying forlorn in a foreign land,
Soldier dying for me,
Over the sea I reach my hand
In a covenant with thee!
Soldier dying for me,
Over the sea I reach my hand
In a covenant with thee!
I will not let the hour and day
Slip from this life of mine
Idly as hour-glass sand away!
They are pledged to the price of thine!
Slip from this life of mine
Idly as hour-glass sand away!
They are pledged to the price of thine!
I will not choose the easier path,
Follow the lower aim;
Balance against the fear of death
Only the fear of shame!
Follow the lower aim;
Balance against the fear of death
Only the fear of shame!
I will not hold but a half-belief
In the everlasting love,
Arraign the Eternal in my grief,
Or doubt of Heaven above!
In the everlasting love,
Arraign the Eternal in my grief,
Or doubt of Heaven above!
21
Life, Death, the World and Heaven no more
Seem as of old they seemed:
Days that were pawned to the Devil before
Are by thy death redeemed.
Seem as of old they seemed:
Days that were pawned to the Devil before
Are by thy death redeemed.
Dying forlorn in a foreign land,
Brother dying for me,
Across the gulf I reach my hand
And seal this debt to thee!
Brother dying for me,
Across the gulf I reach my hand
And seal this debt to thee!
22
April, 1917.
Cried the song-bird to the sea-bird, as he neared with weary wing
The far-sought cliffs of England: ‘O Brother, is it Spring?
Are the flowers 'neath the hedges? Are the leaves out in the lane,
Where I may nurse my nestlings and sing my songs again?’
But the sea-bird cried in answer: ‘There is nought but frost and snow.
No leaf in lane or woodland, no flower yet to show.’
The far-sought cliffs of England: ‘O Brother, is it Spring?
Are the flowers 'neath the hedges? Are the leaves out in the lane,
Where I may nurse my nestlings and sing my songs again?’
But the sea-bird cried in answer: ‘There is nought but frost and snow.
No leaf in lane or woodland, no flower yet to show.’
Cried the sea-bird to the song-bird: ‘O Brother, is it peace?
Do death and desolation, do waste and warfare cease?
Is the plough yet in the furrow? Is the sower flinging seed,
Where black and white wings mingle, as rook and sea-gull feed?’
But the song-bird cried in answer: ‘There is nought but blood and woe.
A thousand leagues of land and sea—one tale had all to show.’
Do death and desolation, do waste and warfare cease?
23
Where black and white wings mingle, as rook and sea-gull feed?’
But the song-bird cried in answer: ‘There is nought but blood and woe.
A thousand leagues of land and sea—one tale had all to show.’
24
A Parable.
I found upon the shore
A splendid shell,
Which to my house I bore,
And treasured well.
A splendid shell,
Which to my house I bore,
And treasured well.
I laid me down and slept,
Nor peril weened,
Till forth a crab-thing crept,
A foul, fierce fiend.
Nor peril weened,
Till forth a crab-thing crept,
A foul, fierce fiend.
O Land, whose glory grew
Of love and song!
What devil overthrew
A soul so strong?
Of love and song!
What devil overthrew
A soul so strong?
Cast out, cast out the foe,
If ought remain
Of thy true self, to grow
A soul again!
If ought remain
Of thy true self, to grow
A soul again!
25
The Awakening.
Hail to thee, great Eagle,
Crownless, yet most regal!
Royal Republic! Throned Democracy!
Monarch People peerless,
That sit'st aloof and fearless,
Stretching mighty wings from sea to sea!
Crownless, yet most regal!
Royal Republic! Throned Democracy!
Monarch People peerless,
That sit'st aloof and fearless,
Stretching mighty wings from sea to sea!
Careless of companions
'Midst thy crags and canyons,
What hath moved thy wrath?
'Midst thy crags and canyons,
What hath moved thy wrath?
It is the cry
Of Liberty, my Mother.
And I can no other.
Rise, my children! To her rescue fly!
And I can no other.
Rise, my children! To her rescue fly!
26
To America.
Giant daughter of Freedom, sprung
From the ancient home of the free!
Eagle, whose wings are grown so strong
To stretch from sea to sea!
From the ancient home of the free!
Eagle, whose wings are grown so strong
To stretch from sea to sea!
Gird thyself to the battle! Cry,
As the eagle cries from the crag!
Swifter than wings that darken the sky
Thy sons flock keen to the flag.
As the eagle cries from the crag!
Swifter than wings that darken the sky
Thy sons flock keen to the flag.
Swoop, as the eagle swoops from far,
Where Europe struggles free
From that foul-festering fallen star,
That once was Germany!
Where Europe struggles free
From that foul-festering fallen star,
That once was Germany!
The winds between us as angels go;
The waves between that roll
Are running messengers to and fro,
Pulse of a single soul.
The waves between that roll
Are running messengers to and fro,
Pulse of a single soul.
27
Come in strength, as the Ocean stream,
That of thy warm breast doth rise!
Come in miracle, morning-gleam
Risen in sunset skies!
That of thy warm breast doth rise!
Come in miracle, morning-gleam
Risen in sunset skies!
Come, the herald of Peace on Earth,
For which the world has sighed!
O joy! the burden comes to the birth
We deemed in the womb had died.
For which the world has sighed!
O joy! the burden comes to the birth
We deemed in the womb had died.
O joy! the seed that had seemed to die
In a deluge of blood and tears,
Is springing glorious, to belie
Our little-faith and fears.
In a deluge of blood and tears,
Is springing glorious, to belie
Our little-faith and fears.
Giant daughter of Freedom, sprung
From the loins of our fathers free!
We have been one kin, one lore, one tongue,
We are now one soul with thee.
From the loins of our fathers free!
We have been one kin, one lore, one tongue,
We are now one soul with thee.
28
Renewal.
I said: O Nature, wise and olden,
Art thou too sad?
Behold, the gorse that should be golden
Is khaki-clad.
Art thou too sad?
Behold, the gorse that should be golden
Is khaki-clad.
But Nature answered: See what surging
Of life below!
God sendeth sorrow for your purging,
For mine the snow.
Of life below!
God sendeth sorrow for your purging,
For mine the snow.
29
‘Hide, hide your tears!’
Hide, hide your tears,
Ye breaking hearts, lest sorrow
Darken their years
Whose is the bright To-morrow!
Ye breaking hearts, lest sorrow
Darken their years
Whose is the bright To-morrow!
What can repay
The ruin of the roses,
Though weeping day
In golden sunset closes?
The ruin of the roses,
Though weeping day
In golden sunset closes?
Or what amend
Can be for child-hearts breaking,
Though the world lend
Gold, glory, and mirth-making?
Can be for child-hearts breaking,
Though the world lend
Gold, glory, and mirth-making?
Though this dark night
Show moon nor star adorning,
Grudge not delight
To the young heirs of Morning!
Show moon nor star adorning,
Grudge not delight
To the young heirs of Morning!
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