Not by the valour of Belgium, nor the lightning sabre of France,
Not by the thunder of Britain's Fleet, and the Bear's unchecked
advance,
Not by these fears, Lord Kaiser, tho' they shatter a tyrant's lust,
Is your heart most darkly troubled, and your soul brought down to
the dust.
But by the great affirming of the lands we have knit as one;
By the love, by the passionate loyal love, of each separate freeborn
son.
Canada cries, "We are coming!" and Australasia, "We come!"
And you scowl that no Boer is rising at the beat of your German drum.
And the sons of Ind bear witness--"We have grumbled, but now no more;
We have shared your plentiful righteous Peace, we will share your
righteous War.
Trust us to guard your Honour, one with yours is our breath;
You have dealt us an even justice, we are yours to the gates of
Death."
Here in these rain-swept islands where we fought for the things of
peace,
Where we quarrelled and stormed in factions, at a stroke all factions
cease;
And there in the vast dominions, more free than your Prussian lords,
The women are shouting for England and the men are drawing their
swords.
HAROLD BEGBIE
_By permission of the Author_