Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE JACK O' THE UNION, by CHARLES WHITWORTH WYNNE


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE JACK O' THE UNION, by                    
First Line: Talk not of our fathers' fears!
Last Line: Break out the jack! Let it boom to the buffeting breeze!
Alternate Author Name(s): Cayzer, Charles
Subject(s): Great Britain - Commonwealth & Colonies; British Empire; England - Empire


I

TALK not of our fathers' fears!
England alters with the years—
We must now adapt our creed
To this older England's need.
Bath'd in the blood of her sons, in the blue of her seas,
Break out the Jack! let it boom to the buffeting breeze!

II

All the battles of the past
Are as nothing to this last.
The arbitrament of Sense
—Not of swords—our sure defence!
Bath'd in the blood of her sons, &c.

III

Voices from across the foam
Chant the Commonwealth to come.
Strikes afar the appointed hour,
Love shall conquer, hate devour
Bath'd in the blood of her sons, &c.

IV

'Neath the burning Afric sun
Did our kinsmen Duty shun?
Were we left to fight alone
Thro' the battle's fiercest zone?
Bath'd in the blood of her sons, &c.

V

Fashion'd upon fields of blood,
Soldiers of one King we stood.
With a clearer purpose now
To the mart, and to the plough!
Bath'd in the blood of her sons, &c.

VI

Where the Flag of Britain waves
Over widely-scatter'd graves,
Spring the flowers, all flowers above—
Truth and Justice, Peace and Love.
Bath'd in the blood of her sons, in the blue of her seas,
Break out the Jack! let it boom to the buffeting breeze!





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