Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SAINT GEORGE OF ENGLAND, by CICELY FOX SMITH Poet's Biography First Line: Saint george he was a fighting man, as all the tales do tell Last Line: He'll come home to rest in england where the golden willows blow! Subject(s): George, Saint (3rd Century); World War I - Great Britain | ||||||||
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; From Crécy field to Neuve Chapelle he's there with hand and sword, And he sailed with Drake from Devon to the glory of the Lord. His arm is strong to smite the wrong and break the tyrant's pride, He was there when Nelson triumphed, he was there when Gordon died; He sees his red-cross ensign float on all the winds that blow, But ah! his heart's in England In England, April England Oh, his heart it turns to England where the golden willows grow. Saint George he was a fighting man, he's here and fighting still While any wrong is yet to right or Dragon yet to kill, And faith! he's finding work this day to suit his war-worn sword, For he's strafing Huns in Flanders to the glory of the Lord. Saint George he is a fighting man, but when the fighting's past, And dead among the trampled fields the fiercest and the last Of all the Dragons earth has known beneath his feet lies low, Oh, his heart will turn to England To England, April England He'll come home to rest in England where the golden willows blow! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...OXFORD IN WAR-TIME by LAURENCE BINYON EXPEDITIONAL by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB LINES WRITTEN IN SURREY, 1917 by GEORGE HERBERT CLARKE A CHANT OF LOVE FOR ENGLAND by HELEN GRAY CONE ENGLAND'S ENEMY by JOHN FREEMAN ENGLAND TO FREE MEN by JOHN GALSWORTHY THE FOURTH OF JULY, 1776 by MAURICE HENRY HEWLETT SUBALTERNS: A SONG OF OXFORD by MILDRED HUXLEY A CHANNEL RHYME by CICELY FOX SMITH |
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