ONE of all our brave commanders, Near of kin and dear my friend, Led his men in France and Flanders From the first brush to the end: Peril lov'd he, and undaunted Sought it out, and thanked his stars That to him a place was granted In the worst of all the wars. He brought Uhlans in from Soignies, Where the first blood was let out— With his remnant from Andregnies Saved St. Quentin's desperate rout. Stiffly fought he through the onset Undishearten'd by defeat; Held the rear from dawn to sunset Through the long days of retreat. Times were, to retake the trenches He dismounted his dragoons, Suck'd his share of gas and stenches With lieutenants of platoons. Hit by howitzers and snipers He in his five years campaign Rode the land from Reims to Wipers, On the Marne and on the Aisne. Many deeds would be to blazon, Many fights, to tell them all; Niewport, Witchet, Contalmaison, La Boiselle and Passendaal. Nothing in his clean vocation Vex'd his soul or came amiss, From the hurried embarcation To the fateful armistice: But when terms of truce were bruited, Then his cheery countenance fell In confession undisputed That things were not going well: 'Nay (he said), my hope was larger; 'Twas not thus I look'd to win: I had vow'd to rein my charger In the streets of proud Berlin.' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A PROPER NEW BALLAD [ENTITLED THE FAIRIES' FAREWELL] by RICHARD CORBET TO THE IMMORTAL MEMORY OF THE HALIBUT ON WHICH I DINED by WILLIAM COWPER RECONCILIATION by GEORGE WILLIAM RUSSELL THE CHILD ALONE: 4. PICTURE-BOOKS IN WINTER by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON LINES FROM A PLUTOCRATIC POETASTER TO A DITCH-DIGGER by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS |