YES. Why do we all, seeing of a soldier, bless him? bless Our redcoats, our tars? Both these being, the greater part, But frail clay, nay but foul clay. Here it is: the heart, Since, proud, it calls the calling manly, gives a guess That, hopes that, makesbelieve, the men must be no less; It fancies, feigns, deems, dears the artist after his art; And fain will find as sterling all as all is smart, And scarlet wear the spirit of war there express. Mark Christ our King. He knows war, served this soldiering through; He of all can handle a rope best. There he bides in bliss Now, and seeing somewhere some man do all that man can do, For love he leans forth, needs his neck must fall on, kiss, And cry 'O Christ-done deed! So God-made-flesh does too: Were I come o'er again' cries Christ 'it should be this'. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VICTORY IN DEFEAT by EDWIN MARKHAM GREEN RIVER by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT PAST AND PRESENT by ROWLAND EYLES EGERTON-WARBURTON THE HOMES OF ENGLAND by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS SONNET: THE HUMAN SEASONS by JOHN KEATS FROLIC by GEORGE WILLIAM RUSSELL SAINT AGNES' EVE by ALFRED TENNYSON |