Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, I SING THE BATTLE, by HARRY HIBBARD KEMP


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

I SING THE BATTLE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I sing the song of the great clean guns that belch forth death at will
Last Line: And wilt thou sing the shadowy hosts that never march again?
Subject(s): Singing & Singers; War; Songs


I SING the song of the great clean guns that belch forth death at will.
Ah, but the wailing mothers, the lifeless forms and still!

I sing the song of the billowing flags, the bugles that cry before.
Ah, but the skeletons flapping rags, the lips that speak no more!

I sing the clash of bayonets and sabers that flash and cleave.
And wilt thou sing the maimed ones, too, that go with pinned-up sleeve?

I sing acclaimèd generals that bring the victory home.
Ah, but the broken bodies that drip like honeycomb!

I sing of hosts triumphant, long ranks of marching men.
And wilt thou sing the shadowy hosts that never march again?





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