Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AN APPEAL FOR SAINT GEORGE'S HOSPITAL IN LONDON, by JOHN DRINKWATER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AN APPEAL FOR SAINT GEORGE'S HOSPITAL IN LONDON, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Hard here in london / I have seen
Last Line: Where the pigeons pair.
Subject(s): Hospitals; London


I

HARD here in London
I have seen
The first buds coming
Of April green,
In the dark tree
Of a London square
Have watched the nesting
Pigeons pair.

II

Saint George is a fighter,
His arm is fear
Where England's foemen
Lift the spear;
The dragons know him,
And men who die
For England, 'Saint George
For England!' cry.

III

But still as a child,
All joy and pity,
Little Saint George
In London city
Wanders alone,
And childlike stares
At pigeons building
In London squares.

IV

Great Saint George
With lance in hand
Guards all days
Our fatherland,
But little Saint George
Is charity,
He binds the wounds
Of the wounded; he
Says, 'Sick man, sick man, take your ease,
Mend in sight of the London trees
Where pigeons mate and softly coo
As deep in the distant woods they do.'

V

Friends, who hold
Your wealth and peace
Because Saint George
Withouten cease
Touches your latch
Each night that falls,
And waits, and waits,
Till England calls --
Because he stands
In your defence
All armed and bright
In diligence,
Remember, too,
The little Saint
Who asks your alms
For men who faint
Because the tumult
Drags and sears,
For hurt men crying
To him who hears,
To little Saint George
To give them ease
Where the pigeons build
In London trees.

VI

Great Saint George
Our name defend,
Little Saint George
Be pity's friend,
While we with George
The Prince have care
Of charity's house
Where the pigeons pair.





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