<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">To France</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Those</span> who have stood for thy cause when the dark was around thee,</p><p class="line">Those who have pierced through the shadows and shining have found thee,</p><p class="line">Those who have held to their faith in thy courage and power,</p><p class="line">Thy spirit, thy honor, thy strength for a terrible hour,</p><p class="line">Now can rejoice that they see thee in light and in glory,</p><p class="line">Facing whatever may come as an end to the story</p><p class="line">In calm undespairing, with steady eyes fixed on the morrow --</p><p class="line">The morn that is pregnant with blood and with death and with sorrow.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And whether the victory crowns thee, O France the eternal,</p><p class="line">Or whether the smoke and the dusk of a nightfall infernal</p><p class="line">Gather about thee, and us, and the foe; and all treasures</p><p class="line">Run with the flooding of war into bottomless measures --</p><p class="line">Fall what befalls: in this hour all those who are near thee</p><p class="line">And all who have loved thee, they rise and salute and revere thee!</p></div><p class="byline">Herbert Jones</p></body></html> · Great War