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Forth from the darkness leaps in pride a hateful miracle； The flagship
of their Admiraland now God help and save！ We challenge Death
at Death's own game； we sink beneath the wave！
。 。 。 。 。 。
Ah； steady nowand one good blowone straight stab through
the gloom Ah； good！the thrust went home！she founders
flounders to her doom！ Full speed ahead！those damned quick…firing
guns but let them bark What's thatthe dynamos？they've got us；
men！ Christ！ in the dark！
NICHOLAS OF MONTENEGRO
（1912）
HE speaks as straight as his rifles shot； As straight as a thrusting
blade； Waiting the deed that shall trouble the truce His savage guns
have made。
〃You have dared the wrath of a dozen states；〃 Was the challenge
that he heard； 〃We can die but once！〃 said the grim old King As he
gripped his mountain sword。
〃For I paid in blood for the town I took； The blood of my brave
men slain； And if you covet the town I took You must buy it with
blood again！〃
Stern old King of the stark； black hills； Where the lean； fierce
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eagles breed； Your speech rings true as your good sword rings And
you are a king indeed！
DICKENS
〃The only book that the party had was a volume of Dickens。 During
the six months that they lay in the cave which they had hacked in the ice；
waiting for spring to come； they read this volume through again and
again。〃From a newspaper report of an antarctic expedition。
HUDDLED within their savage lair They hearkened to the
prowling wind； They heard the loud wings of despair 。 。 。 And madness
beat against the mind。 。 。 。 A sunless world stretched stark outside As if it
had cursed God and died； Dumb plains lay prone beneath the weight Of
cold unutterably great； Iron ice bound all the bitter seas； The brutal hills
were bleak as hate。 。 。 。 Here none but Death might walk at ease！
Then Dickens spoke； and； lo！ the vast Unpeopled void stirred into
life；
The dead world quickened； the mad blast Hushed for an hour its
idiot strife With nothingness。 。 。 。
And from the gloom； Parting the flaps
of frozen skin； Old friends and dear came trooping in； And light and
laughter filled the room。 。 。 。 Voices and faces； shapes beloved；
Babbling lips and kindly eyes； Not ghosts； but friends that lived and
moved 。 。 。 They brought the sun from other skies； They wrought the
magic that dispels The bitterer part of loneliness 。 。 。 And when they
vanished each man dreamed His dream there in the wilderness。 。 。 。 One
heard the chime of Christmas bells； And； staring down a country lane； Saw
bright against the window…pane The firelight beckon warm and red。 。 。 。
And one turned from the waterside Where Thames rolls down his slothful
tide To breast the human sea that beats Through roaring London's battered
streets
And revel in the moods of men。 。 。 。 And one saw all the April hills
Made glad with golden daffodils； And found and kissed his love again。 。 。 。
。 。 。 。 。 。
By all the troubled hearts he cheers In homely ways or by lost trails；
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By all light shed through all dark years When hope grows sick and
courage quails； We hail him first among his peers； Whether we sorrow；
sing； or feast； He； too； hath known and understood Master of many
moods； high priest Of mirth and lord of cleansing tears！
A POLITICIAN
LEADER no more； be judged of us！ Hailed Chief； and loved； of
yore Youth； and the faith of youth； cry out： Leader and Chief no
more！
We dreamed a Prophet； flushed with faith； Content to toil in pain If
that his sacrifice might be； Somehow； his people's gain。
We saw a vision； and our blood Beat red and hot and strong： 〃Lead
us （we cried） to war against Some foul； embattled wrong！〃
We dreamed a Warrior whose sword Was edged for sham and
shame； We dreamed a Statesman far above The vulgar lust for fame。
We were not cynics； and we dreamed A Man who made no truce
With lies nor ancient privilege Nor old； entrenched abuse。
We dreamed 。 。 。 we dreamed 。 。 。 Youth dreamed a dream！
And even you forgot Yourself； one moment； and dreamed； too Struck；
while your mood was hot！
Struck three or four good blows 。 。 。 and then Turned back to easier
things： The cheap applause； the blatant mob； The praise of underlings！
Praise 。 。 。 praise 。 。 。 was ever man so filled； So avid still； of praise？
So hungry for the crowd's acclaim； The sycophantic phrase？
O you whom Greatness beckoned to 。 。 。 O swollen Littleness Who
turned from Immortality To fawn upon Success！
O blind with love of self； who led Youth's vision to defeat； Bawling
and brawling for rewards； Loud； in the common street！
O you who were so quick to judge Leader； and loved； of yore
Hear now the judgment of our youth： Leader and Chief no more！
THE BAYONET
（1914）
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THE great guns slay from a league away； the death… bolts fly
unseen； And bellowing hill replies to hill； machine to brute machine；
But still in the end when the long lines bend and the battle hangs in
doubt They take to the steel in the same old way that their fathers
fought it out It is man to man and breast to breast and eye to
bloodshot eye And the reach and twist of the thrus