Songs of the Army of the Night

Excerpt

I.

“ENGLAND.”
IN THE CAMP.

This is a leader’s tent.  “Who gathers here?”
   Enter and see and listen.  On the ground
Men sit or stand, enter or disappear,
   Dark faces and deep voices all around.

One answers you.  “You ask who gathers here?
   Companions!  Generals we have none, nor chief.
What need is there?  The plan is all so clear—
  The future’s hope, the present’s grim relief!

“Food for us all, and clothes, and roofs come first.
   The means to gain them?  This, our leaguered band!
The hatred of the robber rich accursed
   Keeps foes together, makes fools understand.

“Beyond the present’s faith, the future’s hope
   Points to the dawning hour when all shall be
But one.  The man condemned shall fit the rope
   Around the hangman’s neck, and both be free!

“The sun then rises on a happier land
   Where Wealth and Labour sound but as one word.
We drill, we train, we arm our leaguered band.
   What is there more to tell you have not heard?”

This is a leader’s tent.  They gather here,
   Resolute, stern, menacing.  On the ground
They sit or stand, enter or disappear,
   Dark faces and deep voices all around.

Let him who toils, enjoy
   Fruit of his toiling.
Let him whom sweats annoy,
   No more be spoiling.

For we would have it be
   That, weak or stronger,
Not he who works, but he
   Who works not, hunger!

DRILL.

When day’s hard task’s done,
   Eve’s scant meal partaken,
Out we steal each one,
   Weariless, unshaken.

In small reeking squares,
   Garbaged plots, we gather,
Little knots and pairs,
   Brother, sister, father.

Then the word is given.
   In their silent places
Under lowering heaven,
   Range our stern-set faces.

Now we march and wheel
   In our clumsy line,
Shouldering sticks for steel,
   Thoughts like bitter brine!

Drill, drill, drill, and drill!
   It is only thus
Conquer yet we will
   Those who’ve conquered us.

Patience, sisters, mothers!
   We must not forget
Dear dead fathers, brothers;
   They must teach us yet.

In that hour we see,
   The hour of our desire,
What shall their slayers be?
   As the stubble to the fire!

“We sow the fertile seed and then we reap it;
   We thresh the golden grain; we knead the bread.
Others that eat are glad.  In store they keep it,
   While we hunger outside with hearts like lead.
Hallelujah!

“We hew the stone and saw it, rear the city.
   Others inhabit there in pleasant ease.
We have no thing to ask of them save pity,
   No answer they to give but what they please.
Hallelujah!

“Is it for ever, fathers, say, and mothers,
   That we must toil and never know the light?
Is it for ever, sisters, say, and brothers,
   That they must grind us dead here in the night?
Hallelujah!

“O we who sow, reap, knead, shall we not also
   Have strength and pleasure of the food we make?
O we who hew, build, deck, shall we not also
   The happiness that we have given partake?
Hallelujah!”

IN THE STREET.
LORD ----.

You have done well, we say it.  You are dead,
   And, of the man that with the right hand takes
Less than the left hand gives, let it be said
   He has done something for our wretched sakes.
For those to whom you gave their daily bread
   Rancid with God-loathed “charity,” their drink
Putrid with man-loathed “sin,” we bow our head
   Grateful, as the great hearse goes by, and think.
Yes, you have fed the flesh and starved the soul
   Of thousands of us; you have taught too well
The rich are little gods beyond control,
   Save of your big God of the heaven and hell.
We thank you.  This was pretty once, and right.
Now it wears rather thin.  My lord, good night!

“Liberty!”  Is that the cry, then?
   We have heard it oft of yore.
Once it had, we think, a meaning;
   Let us hear it now no more.

We have read what history tells us
   Of its heroes, martyrs too.
Doubtless they were very splendid,
   But they’re not for me and you....