The New Morning Poems

Excerpt

I.

STEADFAST as any soldier of the line

He served his England, with the imminent death

Poised at his heart. Nor could the world divine

The constant peril of each burdened breath.

England, and the honour of England, he still served

Walking the strict path, with the old high pride

Of those invincible knights who never swerved

One hair's breadth from the way until they died.

Quietness he loved, and books, and the grave beauty

Of England's Helicon, whose eternal light

Shines like a lantern on that road of duty,

Discerned by few in this chaotic night.

And his own pen, foretelling his release,

Told us that he foreknew "the end was peace."

Soldier of England, he shall live unsleeping

Among his friends, with the old proud flag above;

For even today her honour is in his keeping.

He has joined the hosts that guard her with their love.

They shine like stars, unnumbered happy legions,

In that high realm where all our darkness dies.

He moves, with honour, in those loftier regions,

Above this "world of passion and of lies":

For so he called it, keeping his own pure passion

A silent flame before the true and good;

Not fawning on the throng in this world's fashion

come and see what all might see who would.

Soldier of England, brave and gentle knight,

The soul of Sidney welcomes you tonight.

CONTENTS

DEDICATION:To the Memory of Sir Cecil Spring-Rice"The Avenue of the Allies"On the Western FrontVictoryAMERICAN POEMS,1912–1917Republic and MotherlandThe UnionGhosts of the New WorldThe Old Meeting HousePrincetonBeethoven in Central ParkSONGS OF THE TRAWLERS AND SEA POEMSThe People's FleetKilmenyCap'n Storm-alongThe Big Black TrawlerNamesakesWirelessFishers of MenAn Open BoatPeace in a PalaceThe VindictiveMISCELLANEOUS POEMSThe Chimney-sweeps of CheltenhamTo a Successful ManThe Old Gentleman With the Amber SnuffboxWhat Grandfather SaidMemories of the Pacific CoastNipponThe Humming BirdsLines for a Sun-dialThe Realms of GoldCompensationsDead Man's MorriceThe Old Fool in the WoodA New Madrigal To an Old MelodyThe Lost BattleRiddles of MerlinThe SymphonyPeaceThe Open DoorImmortal SailsThe Matin-song of Friar TuckFive CriticismsThe CompanionsThe Little RoadsSunlight and SeaThe Road Through ChaosThe Night of the LionThe War WidowThe BellSlave and EmperorOn a Mountain-topEARLY POEMSThe Phantom FleetMichael OaktreeTOUCHSTONE ON A BUSTouchstone on a BusIThe New DucklingIIThe Man Who Discovered the Use a ChairIIICotton-woolIVFashionsEPILOGUEThe Reward of Song

THE NEW MORNING

THIS is the song of the wind as it came

Tossing the flags of the nations to flame:

I am the breath of God....