Men Who March Away / Thomas Hardy

Men Who March Away

(Song of the Soldiers)

What of the faith and fire within us
        Men who march away
        Ere the barn-cocks say
        Night is growing gray,
Leaving all that here can win us;
What of the faith and fire within us
        Men who march away?

Is it a purblind prank, O think you,
        Friend with the musing eye,
        Who watch us stepping by
        With doubt and dolorous sigh?
Can much pondering so hoodwink you!
Is it a purblind prank, O think you,
        Friend with the musing eye?

Nay. We well see what we are doing,
        Though some may not see —
        Dalliers as they be —
        England's need are we;
Her distress would leave us rueing:
Nay. We well see what we are doing,
        Though some may not see!

In our heart of hearts believing
        Victory crowns the just,
        And that braggarts must
        Surely bite the dust,
Press we to the field ungrieving,
In our heart of hearts believing
        Victory crowns the just.

Hence the faith and fire within us
        Men who march away
        Ere the barn-cocks say
        Night is growing gray,
Leaving all that here can win us;
Hence the faith and fire within us
        Men who march away.

~~
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)
from Selected Poems, 1916

[Poem is in the public domain in Canada, the United States, and the European Union]

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