Poems (Coates 1916)/Volume II/In War-Time—An American Homeward Bound

For works with similar titles, see In War Time and In War-Time (Coates).

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Poems, Volume II by Florence Earle Coates In War-Time—An American Homeward Bound

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Also published in The Bellman.

IN WAR-TIME

AN AMERICAN HOMEWARD BOUND

FURTHER and further we leave the scene  Of war—and of England's care; I try to keep my mind serene,—  But my heart stays there; For a distant song of pain and wrong  My spirit doth deep confuse, And I sit all day on the deck, and long—  And long for news! I seem to see them in battle-line—  Heroes with hearts of gold, But of their victory a sign  The Fates withhold; And the hours too tardy-footed pass,  The voiceless hush grows dense Mid the imaginings, alas!  That feed suspense. Oh, might I lie on the wind, or fly  In the wilful sea-bird's track, Would I hurry on, with a homesick cry,—  Or hasten back?