(Southampton Docks: October 1899) HERE, where Vespasian's legions struck the sands, And Cerdic with his Saxons entered in, And Henry's army leapt afloat to win Convincing triumphs over neighbour lands, Vaster battalions press for further strands, To argue in the selfsame bloody mode Which this late age of thought, and pact, and code, Still fails to mend. - Now deckward tramp the bands, Yellow as autumn leaves, alive as spring; And as each host draws out upon the sea Beyond which lies the tragical To-be, None dubious of the cause, none murmuring, Wives, sisters, parents, wave white hands and smile, As if they knew not that they weep the while. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...JILTED by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR WILD SWANS by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY SIMMENTHAL by FREDERICK WILLIAM HENRY MYERS THE MARYLAND BATTALION [AUGUST 27, 1776] by JOHN WILLIAMSON PALMER A BIRTHDAY by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI |