<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">Verdun</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Three</span> hundred thousand men, but not enough</p><p class="line">To break this township on a winding stream;</p><p class="line">More yet must fall, and more, ere the red stuff</p><p class="line">That built a nation's manhood may redeem</p><p class="line">The Master's hopes and realize his dream.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">They pave the way to Verdun; on their dust</p><p class="line">The Hohenzollerns mount and, hand in hand,</p><p class="line">Gaze haggard south; for yet another thrust</p><p class="line">And higher hills must heap, ere they may stand</p><p class="line">To feed their eyes upon the promised land.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">One barrow, borne of women, lifts them high,</p><p class="line">Built up of many a thousand human dead.</p><p class="line">Nursed on their mothers' bosoms, now they lie --</p><p class="line">A Golgotha, all shattered, torn and sped,</p><p class="line">A mountain for these royal feet to tread.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">A Golgotha, upon whose carrion clay</p><p class="line">Justice of myriad men still in the womb</p><p class="line">Shall heave two crosses; crucify and flay</p><p class="line">Two memories accurs'd; then in the tomb</p><p class="line">Of world-wide execration give them room.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Verdun! A clarion thy name shall ring</p><p class="line">Adown the ages and the Nations see</p><p class="line">Thy monuments of glory. Now we bring</p><p class="line">Thank-offering and bend the reverent knee,</p><p class="line">Thou star upon the crown of Liberty!</p></div><p class="byline">Eden Phillpots</p></body></html> · Great War