<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Old Soldier</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Lest</span> the young soldiers be strange in heaven,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">God bids the old soldier they all adored</p><p class="line">Come to Him and wait for them, clean, new-shriven,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">A happy doorkeeper in the House of the Lord.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Lest it abash them, the strange new splendour,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Lest it affright them, the new robes clean;</p><p class="line">Here's an old face, now, long-tried, and tender,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">A word and a hand-clasp as they troop in.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">"My boys," he greets them: and heaven is homely,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">He their great captain in days gone o'er;</p><p class="line">Dear is the friend's face, honest and comely,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Waiting to welcome them by the strange door.</p></div><p class="byline">Katharine Tynan</p></body></html> · Great War