Our own and Europe's safety met in one; And so we sent our warriors to the field, Or launch'd them on the deep, our arms to wield; But ah! when Christian honour pleads alone, When nought is lost by abstinence from war, And nought is urgent save a sister's prayer, We shirk the purer mission, and prepare To close our armouries with bolt and bar; We give into the callous hands of trade Our living hearts - all martial help forbear - For fear the stirring gun-smoke should invade Our marts, or smutch our commerce here and there; We furl our flag, as shopmen in a trice Roll up the web, that will not fetch a price. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CANDLE by KATHERINE MANSFIELD YOUNG SAMMY'S FIRST WILD OATS by GEORGE SANTAYANA TURTLE SOUP by CHARLES LUTWIDGE DODGSON A SPINNING SONG by JOHN FRANCIS O'DONNELL TO ONE WHO ASKED by KENNETH SLADE ALLING SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 18. A PORTRAIT by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |