As it was in the beginning, so we’ll find it in the end,
For a lover, or a brother, or a sweetheart, or a friend;
As it was in the beginning, so we’ll find it by-and-bye,
When weak women hug their babies, and strong men go out to die.
As ’tis written now, or spoken, so we’ll find it yet in deed—
For their State, or for their Country, for their Honour or their Creed;
For the love of Right, or hatred for the Everlasting Lie,
When the women think of some things, and strong men go out to die.
As it used to be in past times, in the future so it must,
We shall find him stretching forward with his face down in the dust,
All his wounds in front, and hidden—blood to earth, and back to sky,
When pale women pray in private, and strong men go out to die.
Rebels all we are, and brothers—rebels to the laws we make—
Rich or poor, or fat or lean man, fighting for another’s sake;
It is all as God decreed it—we shall find it by-and-bye,
When our girls, disguised in boys’ clothes, go to die where strong men die.
In a published book
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Comments
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The more things change, the more things stay the same...Women praying as the men fight for someone else's cause; all are born and all do die; ashes to ashes and dust to dust (lines 10-12). Line 7 has been written about over the centuries--all seem to end as a lie that we are led to believe is a noble cause. Lawson seems bitter--pragmatic in tone. Where I differ is the thought that all is decreed by God. I believe man is responsible for many of his own wars, and many of his own consequences. Where the poem is "saved" a bit from over-realism is the image break of the young girls dressed as men. The girls went against society standards and donned the male role. This introduces the ability of people to go beyond what is expected, much like the classic story of Mulan. Line 16, in my opinion, shows that people are not merely sheep following dictates. It shows a deeper sacrifice (I am not demeaning the lives of men sacrificed!). I just think somehow line 16 shows a part of history so few of us think about, and I find it moving.
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I feel that the second part is the best written of the entire piece. On its own it's quite excellent. But I feel the last one speaks louder than the entire piece at hand.
Especially the last two lines.
A good piece that Lawson has written here, I find it to be quite social and relying on vivid imagery that abounds in society then and now.
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I don't see where this comes under the heading of erotica. But it is a good poem none the less.
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