Tell the tune his feet beat
On the ground all day--
Black-burnt ground and green grass
Seamed with rocks of grey--
"England," "England," "England,"
That one word they say.
{33}
Now they tread the beech-mast,
Now the ploughland's clay,
Now the faery ball-floor of her fields in May.
Now her red June sorrel, now her new-turned hay,
Now they keep the great road, now by sheep-path stray,
Still it's "England," "England,"
"England" all the way!
_Arthur Shearly Cripps._