For France

←A Soldier

For France by Florence Earle Coates Fugitive verse

Belgium→

As rendered in Patriotic Pieces from the Great War (1918):

FOR FRANCE Permission of the author She had been stricken, sorely, ere this came;    And now they wrote that he, her boy, was           dead—    Her only one! Through blinding tears she           read, Trying to see what followed his dear name.    He had died "gloriously," the letter said, "Guarding the Tricolor from touch of shame Where raged the battle furious and wild."    Catching her breath, she stayed despair’s ad-           vance. She was a mother; but, besides—a child                       Of France! And after, though remembrance of past years    Dulled not to her fond vision nor grew dim;    Though every slightest incident of him Was treasured in her breast, she shed no tears.    Her cup was full now, even to the brim, And for herself she knew nor hopes nor fears. So, toiling patiently, with noble pride    And lifted head she met each pitying glance, She was the mother of a son who died—                      For France! —Florence Earle Coates

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1923. The author died in 1927, so this work is also in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 80 years or less. This work may also be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.