Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CLARION, CLARION, by THEODORE B. HUNT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CLARION, CLARION, by                    
First Line: Clarion, clarion, singing so boldly
Last Line: Give me the young men, the young men, I say.
Subject(s): Courage; Soldiers; World War I; Youth; Valor; Bravery; First World War


CLARION, clarion, singing so boldly,
Whom do you beckon to, whom do you call?
Give me the young men, the full-blooded strong men,
The virulent youths will I take first of all.

Fresh and ambitious, unshackled by offspring,
Pawing the earth in the pride of their might,
These will I seize upon, herd them together,
Mould them and arm them and fit them to fight.

Deep throated, bellowing, ravenous cannon,
Whom shall we cram in thy gluttonous maw?
Give me to feed on the pride of the nation,
The blood of thy first born to drip from my jaw.

Choose me the brave one, the hope of your future.
Him of the shoulders unstooped to the wheel,
Before he has known the red pleasure of passion
Shackle his manhood and stamp on the seal:

Label him "soldier" and ship him to glut me,
For, lo, I am hungry, I crave for my prey,
Unsated and baleful, I roar out my order,
Give me the young men, the young men, I say.





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