Collected Poems Volume II Part 101

They laughed at odds for England's sake!

We count, yet cast our strength away.

One Admiral with the soul of Drake Would break the fleets of h.e.l.l to-day!

Give us the splendid heavens of youth, Give us the banners of deathless flame, The ringing watchwords of their fame, The faith, the hope, the simple truth!

Then shall the Deep indeed be swayed Through all its boundless breadth and length, Nor this proud England lean dismayed On twenty miles of strength, Or shrink from aught but shame.

Pull out by night, O leave the sh.o.r.e And lighted streets of Plymouth town, Pull out into the Deep once more!

There, in the night of their renown, The same great waters roll their gloom Around our midget period; And the huge decks that Raleigh trod Over our petty darkness loom!

Along the line the cry is pa.s.sed From all their heaven-illumined spars, Clear as a bell, from mast to mast, It rings against the stars: _Before the world--was G.o.d._

NEW WARS FOR OLD

"_Peace with its luxury is the corrupter of Nations._"

_Any militarist Journal._

I

Peace! When have we prayed for peace?

Over us burns a star Bright, beautiful, red for strife!

Yours are only the drum and the fife And the golden braid and the surface of life!

Ours is the white-hot war!

II

Peace? When have we prayed for peace?

Ours are the weapons of men!

Time changes the face of the world!

Therefore your ancient flags are furled, And ours are the unseen legions hurled Up to the heights again!

III

Peace? When have we prayed for peace?

Is there no wrong to right?

Wrong crying to G.o.d on high Here where the weak and the helpless die, And the homeless hordes of the city go by, The ranks are rallied to-night!

IV

Peace? When have we prayed for peace?

Are ye so dazed with words?

Earth, heaven, shall pa.s.s away Ere for your pa.s.sionless peace we pray!

Are ye deaf to the trumpets that call us to-day, Blind to the blazing swords?

THE PRAYER FOR PEACE

"_Unless public opinion can rise to the height of discussing the subst.i.tution of law for force as a great world-movement, the American arbitration proposals cannot be carried out._"

_Sir Edward Grey._

I

Dare we--though our hope deferred Left us faithless long ago-- Dare we let our hearts be stirred, Lift them to the light and _know_, Cast away our cynic s.h.i.+elds, Break the sword that Mockery wields, _Know_ that Truth indeed prevails, And that Justice holds the scales?

Britain, kneel!

Kneel, Imperial Commonweal!

II

Dare we know that this great hour, Dawning on thy long renown, Marks the purpose of thy power, Crowns thee with a mightier crown, Know that to this purpose climb All the blood-red wars of Time?

If indeed thou _hast_ a goal Beaconing to thy warrior soul, Britain, kneel!

Kneel, Imperial Commonweal!

III

Dare we know what every age Writes with an unerring hand, Read the midnight's moving page, Read the stars and understand,-- Out of Chaos ye shall draw Linked harmonies of Law, Till around the Eternal Sun All your peoples move in one?

Britain, kneel!

Kneel, Imperial Commonweal!

IV

Dare we know that wearied eyes Dimmed with dust of every day _Can_, once more, desire the skies And the glorious upward way?

Dare we, if the Truth should still Vex with doubt our alien will, Take it to our Maker's throne, Let Him speak with us alone?

Britain, kneel!

Kneel, Imperial Commonweal!

V

_Dare we cast our pride away?

Dare we tread where Lincoln trod?

All the Future, by this day, Waits to judge us and our G.o.d!

Set the struggling peoples free!

Crown with Law their Liberty!

Proud with an immortal pride, Kneel we at our Sister's side!

Britain, kneel!