<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Red Cross Spirit Speaks</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Wherever</span> war, with its red woes,</p><p class="line">Or flood, or fire, or famine goes,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">There, too, go I;</p><p class="line">If earth in any quarter quakes</p><p class="line">Or pestilence its ravage makes,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Thither I fly.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I kneel behind the soldier's trench,</p><p class="line">I walk 'mid shambles' smear and stench,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">The dead I mourn;</p><p class="line">I bear the stretcher and I bend</p><p class="line">O'er Fritz and Pierre and Jack to mend</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">What shells have torn.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I go wherever men may dare,</p><p class="line">I go wherever woman's care</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">And love can live,</p><p class="line">Wherever strength and skill can bring</p><p class="line">Surcease to human suffering,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Or solace give.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I helped upon Haldora's shore;</p><p class="line">With Hospitaller Knights I bore</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">The first red cross;</p><p class="line">I was the Lady of the Lamp;</p><p class="line">I saw in Solferino's camp</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">The crimson loss.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I am your pennies and your pounds;</p><p class="line">I am your bodies on their rounds</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Of pain afar;</p><p class="line">I am <em>you</em>, doing what you would</p><p class="line">If you were only where you could --</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Your avatar.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The cross which on my arm I wear,</p><p class="line">The flag which o'er my breast I bear,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Is but the sign</p><p class="line">Of what you'd sacrifice for him</p><p class="line">Who suffers on the hellish rim</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Of war's red line.</p></div><p class="byline">John Finley</p></body></html> · Great War