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Men Who March Away

Thomas Hardy

Song of the Soldiers


What of the faith and fire within us 
Men who march away 
Ere the barn-cocks say 
Night is growing gray, 
To hazards whence no tears can win us; 
What of the faith and fire within us 
Men who march away! 

Is it a purblind prank, O think you, 
Friend with the musing eye 
Who watch us stepping by, 
With doubt and dolorous sigh? 
Can much pondering so hoodwink you? 
Is it a purblind prank, O think you, 
Friend with the musing eye? 

Nay. We see well what we are doing, 
Though some may not see -- 
Dalliers as they be -- 
England's need are we; 
Her distress would leave us rueing: 
Nay. We well see what we are doing, 
Though some may not see! 

In our heart of hearts believing 
Victory crowns the just, 
And that braggarts must 
Surely bite the dust, 
Press we to the field ungrieving, 
In our heart of hearts believing 
Victory crowns the just. 

Hence the faith and fire within us 
Men who march away 
Ere the barn-cocks say 
Night is growing gray, 
To hazards whence no tears can win us; 
Hence the faith and fire within us 
Men who march away. 

Added: 25 Feb 2002 | Last Read: 21 Nov 2009 7:45 PM | Viewed: 6506 times

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URL: http://plagiarist.com/poetry/2757/ | Viewed on 21 November 2009.
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