WHEN dies the king, the king must live, and so With Truth, the torch must burn on through the night, For men have grievous need of all its light, As through a darkened world they grope and go. The bearer must have strength to meet the woe, Heart, mind, faith, hope, and love for every plight, Courage which never falters in the fight — And he has all of these — Ah, well we know. So takes he the command, and for his need We offer him our steadfast loyalty, And in the frontier fields where he shall lead, Our tall, green plumes shall wave in majesty, Till all the fields shall shout of some great deed Such as shall last through God's eternity. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...JIM, WHO RAN AWAY FROM HIS NURSE, AND WAS EATEN BY A LION by HILAIRE BELLOC DINING-ROOM TEA by RUPERT BROOKE AT THE TAVERN by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR ASTROPHEL AND STELLA: 1 by PHILIP SIDNEY THE SANDPIPER by CELIA LEIGHTON THAXTER THE ICE CAGE by JAMES METHVEN BALLANTYNE |