Page:A treasury of war poetry, British and American poems of the world war, 1914-1919.djvu/46

This page has been validated.

---

46

ENGLAND

---

EVENING IN ENGLAND

FROM its blue vase the rose of evening drops. Upon the streams its petals float away. The hills all blue with distance hide their tops In the dim silence falling on the grey. A little wind said "Hush!" and shook a spray Heavy with May's white crop of opening bloom, A silent bat went dipping up the gloom. Night tells her rosary of stars full soon, They drop from out her dark hand to her knees. Upon a silhouette of woods the moon Leans on one horn as if beseeching ease From all her changes which have stirred the seas. Across the ears of Toil Rest throws her veil, I and a marsh bird only make a wail. Francis Ledwidge

SAINT GEORGE OF ENGLAND

SAINT GEORGE he was a fighting man, as all the tales do tell; He fought a battle long ago, and fought it wondrous well. With his helmet, and his hauberk, and his good cross-hilted sword, Oh, he rode a-slaying dragons to the glory of the Lord. And when his time on earth was done, he found he could not rest Where the year is always summer in the Islands of the Blest; So back he came to earth again, to see what he could do, And they cradled him in England—  In England, April England— Oh, they cradled him in England where the golden willows blew! Saint George he was a fighting man, and loved a fighting breed, And whenever England wants him now, he's ready at her need;