<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Spires of Oxford</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I <span class="smallcaps">saw</span> the spires of Oxford</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">As I was passing by,</p><p class="line">The gray spires of Oxford</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Against the pearl-gray sky.</p><p class="line">My heart was with the Oxford men</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Who went abroad to die.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The years go fast in Oxford,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The golden years and gay,</p><p class="line">The hoary Colleges look down</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">On careless boys at play.</p><p class="line">But when the bugles sounded war</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">They put their games away.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">They left the peaceful river,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The cricket-field, the quad,</p><p class="line">The shaven lawns of Oxford,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">To seek a bloody sod --</p><p class="line">They gave their merry youth away</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">For country and for God.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">God rest you, happy gentlemen,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Who laid your good lives down,</p><p class="line">Who took the khaki and the gun</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Instead of cap and gown.</p><p class="line">God bring you to a fairer place</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Than even Oxford town.</p></div><p class="byline">Winifred M. Letts</p></body></html> · Great War