Ardours and Endurances Part 3

V.--AT THE WARS

Now that I am ta'en away, And may not see another day, What is it to my eye appears?

What sound rings in my stricken ears?

Not even the voice of any friend Or eyes beloved-world-without-end, But scenes and sounds of the countryside In far England across the tide: An upland field when Spring's begun, Mellow beneath the evening sun....

A circle of loose and lichened wall Over which seven red pines fall....

An orchard of wizen blossoming trees Wherein the nesting chaffinches Begin again the self-same song All the late April day-time long....

Paths that lead a shelving course Between the chalk scarp and the gorse By English downs; and, O! too well I hear the hidden, clanking bell Of wandering sheep.... I see the brown Twilight of the huge empty down....

Soon blotted out! for now a lane Glitters with warmth of May-time rain, And on a shooting briar I see A yellow bird who sings to me.

O yellow-hammer, once I heard Thy yaffle when no other bird Could to my sunk heart comfort bring; But now I would not have thee sing, So sharp thy note is with the pain Of England I may not see again!

Yet sing thy song: there answereth Deep in me a voice which saith: "_The gorse upon the twilit down, The English loam so sunset brown, The bowed pines and the sheep-bells' clamour, The wet, lit lane and the yellow-hammer, The orchard and the chaffinch song, Only to the Brave belong.

And he shall lose their joy for aye If their price he cannot pay, Who shall find them dearer far Enriched by blood after long War._"

VI.--OUT OF TRENCHES: THE BARN, TWILIGHT

In the raftered barn we lie, Sprawl, scrawl postcards, laugh and speak-- Just mere men a trifle weary, Worn in heart, a trifle weak: Because alway At close of day Thought steals to England far away....

"Alf!" "O ay."

"Gi' us a tune, mate." "Well, wot say?"

"Swipe 'The Policeman's 'Oliday'...."

"_Tiddle-iddle-um-tum_, _Tum_-TUM."

Sprawling on my aching back, Think I nought; but I am glad-- Dear, rare lads of pick and pack!

Aie me too! I'm sad.... I'm sad: Some must die (Maybe I): O pray it take them suddenly!

"Bill!" "Wot ho!"

"Concertina: let it go-- 'If you were the Only Girl.'" "Cheero!"

"_If you were the Only Girl._"

d.a.m.n. 'Abide with Me....' Not now!-- Well ... if you must: just your way.

It racks me till the tears nigh flow.

The tune see-saws. I turn, I pray Behind my hand, Shaken, unmanned, In groans that G.o.d may understand: Miracle!

"Let, let them all survive this h.e.l.l."

Hear 'Trumpeter, what are you sounding?' swell.

(My G.o.d! I guess indeed too well: The broken heart, eyes front, proud knell!) Grant but mine sound with their farewell.

"_It's the Last Post I'm sounding._"

VII.--BATTERY MOVING UP TO A NEW POSITION FROM REST CAMP: DAWN

Not a sign of life we rouse In any square close-shuttered house That flanks the road we amble down Toward far trenches through the town.

The dark, snow-slushy, empty street....

Tingle of frost in brow and feet....

Horse-breath goes dimly up like smoke.

No sound but the smacking stroke

Of a sergeant flings each arm Out and across to keep him warm, And the sudden splas.h.i.+ng crack Of ice-pools broken by our track.

More dark houses, yet no sign Of life.... An axle's creak and whine....

The splash of hooves, the strain of trace....

Clatter: we cross the market place.

Deep quiet again, and on we lurch Under the shadow of a church: Its tower ascends, fog-wreathed and grim; Within its aisles a light burns dim....

When, marvellous! from overhead, Like abrupt speech of one deemed dead, Speech-moved by some Superior Will, A bell tolls thrice and then is still.

And suddenly I know that now The priest within, with s.h.i.+ning brow, Lifts high the small round of the Host.

The server's tingling bell is lost

In clash of the greater overhead.

Peace like a wave descends, is spread, While watch the peasants' reverent eyes....

The bell's boom trembles, hangs, and dies.

O people who bow down to see The Miracle of Calvary, The bitter and the glorious, Bow down, bow down and pray for us.

Once more our anguished way we take Toward our Golgotha, to make For all our lovers sacrifice.

Again the troubled bell tolls thrice.

And slowly, slowly, lifted up Dazzles the overflowing cup.

O wors.h.i.+pping, fond mult.i.tude, Remember us too, and our blood.

Turn hearts to us as we go by, Salute those about to die, Plead for them, the deep bell toll: Their sacrifice must soon be whole.

Entreat you for such hearts as break With the premonitory ache Of bodies, whose feet, hands, and side, Must soon be torn, pierced, crucified.

Sue for them and all of us Who the world over suffer thus, Who have scarce time for prayer indeed, Who only march and die and bleed.

The town is left, the road leads on, Bluely glaring in the sun, Toward where in the sunrise gate Death, honour, and fierce battle wait.

VIII.--EVE OF a.s.sAULT: INFANTRY GOING DOWN TO TRENCHES

Downward slopes the wild red sun.

We lie around a waiting gun; Soon we shall load and fire and load.

But, hark! a sound beats down the road.

"'Ello! wot's up?" "Let's 'ave a look!"

"Come on, Ginger, drop that book!"

"Wot an 'ell of b.l.o.o.d.y noise!"

"It's the Yorks and Lancs, meboys!"

So we crowd: hear, watch them come-- One man drubbing on a drum, A crazy, high mouth-organ blowing, Tin cans rattling, cat-calls, crowing....

And above their rhythmic feet A whirl of shrilling loud and sweet, Round mouths whistling in unison; Shouts: "'O's goin' to out the 'Un?