Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


EDITH CAVELL by GEORGE EDWARD WOODBERRY

First Line: THE WORLD HATH ITS OWN DEAD; GREAT MOTIONS START
Last Line: AND BEAUTIFIES THE WORLD THAT SAW IT DIE!
Subject(s): CAVELL, EDITH (1865-1915); NURSES; WORLD WAR I - CASUALTIES;

I

EDITH CAVELL

The world hath its own dead; great motions start
In human breasts, and make for them a place
In that hushed sanctuary of the race
Where every day men come, kneel, and depart.
Of them, O English nurse, henceforth thou art,
A name to pray on, and to all a face
Of household consecration; such His grace
Whose universal dwelling is the heart.

O gentle hands that soothed the soldier's brow,
And knew no service save of Christ the Lord!
Thy country now is all humanity!
How like a flower thy womanhood doth show
In the harsh scything of the German sword,
And beautifies the world that saw it die!



Home: PoetryExplorer.net