Old Poetry Old Poetry Poetry Poets Essays Forums

For All We Have and Are

For all we have and are,
For all our children's fate,
Stand up and meet the war.
The Hun is at the gate!
Our world has passed away
In wantonness o'erthrown.
There is nothing left to-day
But steel and fire and stone.

Though all we knew depart,
The old commandments stand:
"In courage keep your heart,
In strength lift up your hand."

Once more we hear the word
That sickened earth of old:
"No law except the sword
Unsheathed and uncontrolled,"
Once more it knits mankind,
Once more the nations go
To meet and break and bind
A crazed and driven foe.

Comfort, content, delight —
The ages' slow-bought gain —
They shrivelled in a night,
Only ourselves remain
To face the naked days
In silent fortitude,
Through perils and dismays
Renewd and re-renewed.

Though all we made depart,
The old commandments stand:
"In patience keep your heart,
In strength lift up your hand."

No easy hopes or lies
Shall bring us to our goal,
But iron sacrifice
Of body, will, and soul.
There is but one task for all —
For each one life to give.
Who stands if freedom fall?
Who dies if England live?

Leave a guest comment (subject to review)

: Comment:

Name: (required)
Email: (required, hidden from spam)

Comments


  • rufina caraid Moderators member
    May 30, 2004
    Edit | Reply
    Ahkam on May 20, 4:27 p.m.
    We live as we dream_ alone, 368 critiques. said:
    it's wonderful
    __ "if" is still his masterpiece (reply?)

  • HoldMe
    February 21, 2004
    Edit | Reply
    Certainly a very nice song...it rang with emotion that was wonderful...a very nice flow, too...all in all a very good piece.


  • Ahkam Moderators member
    January 15, 2004
    Edit | Reply

    very nice

    this is very nice song full of love for freedom n lesson of courage