Rhymes of a Red Cross Man Part 18

Along the road the "fanta.s.sins" are pouring, And some are gay as fire, and some steel-stern... .

Then back again I see the red tide pouring, Along the reeking road from Hebuterne.

And once again I seek Hill Sixty-Seven, The Hun lines grey and peaceful in my sight; When suddenly the rosy air is riven-- A "coal-box" blots the "boyou" on my right.

Or else to evil Carnoy I am stealing, Past sentinels who hail with bated breath; Where not a cigarette spark's dim revealing May hint our mission in that zone of death.

I see across the shrapnel-seeded meadows The jagged rubble-heap of La Boiselle; Blood-guilty Fricourt brooding in the shadows, And Thiepval's chateau empty as a sh.e.l.l.

Down Albert's riven streets the moon is leering; The Hanging Virgin takes its bitter ray; And all the road from Hamel I am hearing The silver rage of bugles over Bray.

Once more within the sky's deep sapphire hollow I sight a swimming Taube, a fairy thing; I watch the angry sh.e.l.l flame flash and follow In feather puffs that flick a tilted wing; And then it fades, with shrapnel mirror's flashing; The flashes bloom to blossoms lily gold; The batteries are rancorously crashing, And life is just as full as it can hold.

Oh s.p.a.cious days of glory and of grieving!

Oh sounding hours of l.u.s.tre and of loss!

Let us be glad we lived you, still believing The G.o.d who gave the cannon gave the Cross.

Let us be sure amid these seething pa.s.sions, The l.u.s.ts of blood and hate our souls abhor: The Power that Order out of Chaos fashions Smites fiercest in the wrath-red forge of War... .

Have faith! Fight on! Amid the battle-h.e.l.l Love triumphs, Freedom beacons, all is well.