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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
COMING OF WAR, by LIONEL PIGOT JOHNSON Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Gather the people, for the battle breaks Subject(s): Soldiers | |||
Gather the people, for the battle breaks: From camping grounds above the valley, Gather the people, for the battle breaks: Gather the men-at-arms, and bid them rally: Because the morn, the battle, wakes. From camping grounds above the valley, High throned above the mountains and the main, Gather the men-at-arms, and bid them rally: Triumphs the sun: far down, the pasture plain Because the morn, the battle, wakes. To trampling armour shakes. High throned above the mountains and the main, Triumphs the sun: far down, the pasture plain This was the meaning of those plenteous years, Those unarmed years of peace unbroken: To trampling armour shakes. Flashing war crowns them! Now war's trump hath spoken This final glory in our ears. The old blood of our pastoral fathers now This was the meaning of those plenteous years, Those unarmed years of peace unbroken: Riots about our heart, and through our brow: Their sons can have no fears. Flashing war crowns them! Now war's trump hath spoken This final glory in our ears. This was our whispering and haunting dream, The old blood of our pastoral fathers now When cornfields flourished, red and golden: Riots about our heart, and through our brow: When vines hung purple, nor could be withholden The radiant outburst of their stream. Their sons can have no fears. Earth cried to us, that all her laboured store Was ours: that she had more to give, and more: For nothing, did we deem? This was our whispering and haunting dream, We give her back the glory of this hour. When cornfields flourished, red and golden: O sun and earth! O strength and beauty! When vines hung purple, nor could be withholden The radiant outburst of their stream. We use you now, we thank you now: our duty Earth cried to us, that all her laboured store We stand to do, mailed in your power. Was ours: that she had more to give, and more: A little people of a favoured land, For nothing, did we deem? Helmed with the blessing of the morn we stand: Our life is at its flower. Gather the people, let the battle break: We give her back the glory of this hour. An hundred peaceful years are over. Now march each man to battle, as a lover: O sun and earth! O strength and beauty! For him, whom death shall overtake! We use you now, we thank you now: our duty We stand to do, mailed in your power. Sleeping upon this field, about his gloom A little people of a favoured land, Voices shall pierce, to thrill his sacred tomb, Of pride for his great sake. Helmed with the blessing of the morn we stand: Our life is at its flower. With melody about us: heart and feet Responding to one mighty measure; Glad with the splendour of an holy pleasure; Swayed, one and all, as wind sways wheat: Gather the people, let the battle break: Answering the sunlight with our eyes aglow; An hundred peaceful years are over. Serene, and proud, and passionate, we go Now march each man to battle, as a lover: For him, whom death shall overtake! Through airs of morning sweet. Let no man dare to be disheartened now! Sleeping upon this field, about his gloom Voices shall pierce, to thrill his sacred tomb, We challenge death beyond denial. Of pride for his great sake. Against the host of death we make our trial: Lord God of Hosts! do thou, Who gavest us the fulness of thy sun With melody about us: heart and feet On fields of peace, perfect war's work begun: Warriors, to thee we bow. Responding to one mighty measure; O life-blood of remembrance! Long ago Glad with the splendour of an holy pleasure; Swayed, one and all, as wind sways wheat: This land upheld our ancient fathers: Answering the sunlight with our eyes aglow; And for this land, their land, our land, now gathers Serene, and proud, and passionate, we go One fellowship against the foe. The spears flash: be they as our mothers' eyes! Through airs of morning sweet. The trump sounds: hearken to our fathers' cries! March we to battle so. Let no man dare to be disheartened now! We challenge death beyond denial. Against the host of death we make our trial: Lord God of Hosts! do thou, Who gavest us the fulness of thy sun On fields of peace, perfect war's work begun: Warriors, to thee we bow. O life-blood of remembrance! Long ago This land upheld our ancient fathers: And for this land, their land, our land, now gathers One fellowship against the foe. The spears flash: be they as our mothers' eyes! The trump sounds: hearken to our fathers' cries! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ALL ARMIES ARE THE SAME by ERNEST HEMINGWAY ABSENT WITH OFFICIAL LEAVE by RANDALL JARRELL PORT OF EMBARKATION by RANDALL JARRELL THE CONFESSION OF ST. JIM-RALPH by DENIS JOHNSON OPERATION MEMORY by DAVID LEHMAN BY THE STATUE OF KING CHARLES AT CHARING CROSS by LIONEL PIGOT JOHNSON THE CHURCH OF A DREAM; TO BERNHARD BERENSON by LIONEL PIGOT JOHNSON |
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