William Noel Hodgson MC (1893- 1916), Pen Name: Edward Melbourne
BEFORE ACTIONBy all the glories of the day,
And the cool evening?s benison:
By the last sunset touch that lay
Upon the hills when day was done:
By beauty lavishly outpoured,
And blessings carelessly received,
By all the days that I have lived,
Make me a soldier, Lord.
By all of all men?s hopes and fears,
And all the wonders poets sing,
The laughter of unclouded years,
And every sad and lovely thing:
By the romantic ages stored
With high endeavour that was his,
By all his mad catastrophes,
Make me a man, O Lord. I, that on my familiar hill
Saw with uncomprehending eyes
A hundred of Thy sunsets spill
Their fresh and sanguine sacrifice,
Ere the sun swings his noonday sword
Must say good-bye to all of this:?
By all delights that I shall miss,
Help me to die, O Lord.
FLANDERS FIELD  No Mans Land, Flanders Field, France 1919 |
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