For England Poems written during estrangement: By William Watson |
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| I. |
| II. |
| V. |
| V. |
| VII. |
| IX. | IX ACHIEVEMENT |
| XI. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
 | For England |  |
33
IX
ACHIEVEMENT
Who says we fail? We prosper beyond dreams.
As architects of ruin we have no peers.
We thought to fire but farmsteads: we have lit
A flame less transient in the hearts of men.
We are ill at building? Yet have we at least
Destroyed to better purpose than we knew.
We have raised up heroes where we found but hinds,
34
Redder from our red hoof-prints the wild rose
Of freedom shall afresh hereafter spring,
And in our own despite are we the sires
Of liberty, as night begets the day.
Sufficient claim to memory this I deem,
Title enow, were other passport none.
| For England | |