Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, JOINING THE COLOURS (WEST KENTS, DUBLIN, AUGUST 1914), by KATHARINE TYNAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

JOINING THE COLOURS (WEST KENTS, DUBLIN, AUGUST 1914), by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: There they go marching all in step so gay!
Last Line: Out of the mist they stepped - into the mist %singing they pass
Alternate Author Name(s): Hinkson, Katharine Tynan
Subject(s): Women; World War I


There they go marching all in step so gay!
There they go marching all in step so gay!
Smooth-cheeked and golden, food for shells and guns.
Smooth-cheeked and golden, food for shells and guns.
Blithely they go as to a wedding day,
Blithely they go as to a wedding day,
The mothers' sons.
The mothers' sons.




The drab street stares to see them row on row
The drab street stares to see them row on row
On the high tram-tops, singing like the lark.
On the high tram-tops, singing like the lark.
Too careless-gay for courage, singing they go
Too careless-gay for courage, singing they go
Into the dark.
Into the dark.




With tin whistles, mouth-organs, any noise,
With tin whistles, mouth-organs, any noise,
They pipe the way to glory and the grave;
They pipe the way to glory and the grave;
Foolish and young, the gay and golden boys
Foolish and young, the gay and golden boys
Love cannot save.
Love cannot save.




High heart! High courage! The poor girls they kissed
High heart! High courage! The poor girls they kissed
Run with them: they shall kiss no more, alas!
Run with them : they shall kiss no more, alas!
Out of the mist they stepped-into the mist
Out of the mist they stepped-into the mist
Singing they pass.
Singing they pass.








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