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COMING OF WAR, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Gather the people, for the battle breaks
Subject(s): Soldiers



Gather the people, for the battle breaks:

From camping grounds above the valley,
Gather the people, for the battle breaks:
Gather the men-at-arms, and bid them rally:
From camping grounds above the valley,
Because the morn, the battle, wakes.
Gather the men-at-arms, and bid them rally:
High throned above the mountains and the main,
Because the morn, the battle, wakes.
Triumphs the sun: far down, the pasture plain
High throned above the mountains and the main,
To trampling armour shakes.
Triumphs the sun: far down, the pasture plain
This was the meaning of those plenteous years,
To trampling armour shakes.
Those unarmed years of peace unbroken:

Flashing war crowns them! Now war's trump hath spoken

This final glory in our ears.
This was the meaning of those plenteous years,
The old blood of our pastoral fathers now
Those unarmed years of peace unbroken:
Riots about our heart, and through our brow:
Flashing war crowns them! Now war's trump hath spoken
Their sons can have no fears.
This final glory in our ears.
This was our whispering and haunting dream,
The old blood of our pastoral fathers now
When cornfields flourished, red and golden:
Riots about our heart, and through our brow:
When vines hung purple, nor could be withholden
Their sons can have no fears.
The radiant outburst of their stream.

Earth cried to us, that all her laboured store

Was ours: that she had more to give, and more:
This was our whispering and haunting dream,
For nothing, did we deem?
When cornfields flourished, red and golden:
We give her back the glory of this hour.
When vines hung purple, nor could be withholden
O sun and earth! O strength and beauty!
The radiant outburst of their stream.
We use you now, we thank you now: our duty
Earth cried to us, that all her laboured store
We stand to do, mailed in your power.
Was ours: that she had more to give, and more:
A little people of a favoured land,
For nothing, did we deem?
Helmed with the blessing of the morn we stand:

Our life is at its flower.

Gather the people, let the battle break:
We give her back the glory of this hour.
An hundred peaceful years are over.
O sun and earth! O strength and beauty!
Now march each man to battle, as a lover:
We use you now, we thank you now: our duty
For him, whom death shall overtake!
We stand to do, mailed in your power.
Sleeping upon this field, about his gloom
A little people of a favoured land,
Voices shall pierce, to thrill his sacred tomb,
Helmed with the blessing of the morn we stand:
Of pride for his great sake.
Our life is at its flower.
With melody about us: heart and feet

Responding to one mighty measure;

Glad with the splendour of an holy pleasure;
Gather the people, let the battle break:
Swayed, one and all, as wind sways wheat:
An hundred peaceful years are over.
Answering the sunlight with our eyes aglow;
Now march each man to battle, as a lover:
Serene, and proud, and passionate, we go
For him, whom death shall overtake!
Through airs of morning sweet.
Sleeping upon this field, about his gloom
Let no man dare to be disheartened now!
Voices shall pierce, to thrill his sacred tomb,
We challenge death beyond denial.
Of pride for his great sake.
Against the host of death we make our trial:

Lord God of Hosts! do thou,

Who gavest us the fulness of thy sun
With melody about us: heart and feet
On fields of peace, perfect war's work begun:
Responding to one mighty measure;
Warriors, to thee we bow.
Glad with the splendour of an holy pleasure;
O life-blood of remembrance! Long ago
Swayed, one and all, as wind sways wheat:
This land upheld our ancient fathers:
Answering the sunlight with our eyes aglow;
And for this land, their land, our land, now gathers
Serene, and proud, and passionate, we go
One fellowship against the foe.
Through airs of morning sweet.
The spears flash: be they as our mothers' eyes!

The trump sounds: hearken to our fathers' cries!

March we to battle so.
Let no man dare to be disheartened now!
We challenge death beyond denial.
Against the host of death we make our trial:
Lord God of Hosts! do thou,
Who gavest us the fulness of thy sun
On fields of peace, perfect war's work begun:
Warriors, to thee we bow.


O life-blood of remembrance! Long ago
This land upheld our ancient fathers:
And for this land, their land, our land, now gathers
One fellowship against the foe.
The spears flash: be they as our mothers' eyes!
The trump sounds: hearken to our fathers' cries!






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