<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">A Non-Combatant</h1><h1 align="center" class="head">1</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I SAW my neighbour going gay</p><p class="line">To France as for a holiday:</p><p class="line">Caught out of the cursing battle</p><p class="line">Many a burst of boyish prattle:</p><p class="line">Heard how many a devilish stroke</p><p class="line">Was taken, laughing, for a joke:</p><p class="line">Knew the horror, and the sin</p><p class="line">In the horror glorying,</p><p class="line">Boasting they could make a clod</p><p class="line">Of any image of our God,</p><p class="line">Boasting they could dim and dull</p><p class="line">Love with hatred, and annul</p><p class="line">Whatsoe'er is beautiful:</p><p class="line">Boasting all the hideous boasts</p><p class="line">That glut the ugly battle-ghosts . . .</p><p class="line">Clear, among the starry rafters</p><p class="line">Of the world, heard angel laughters</p><p class="line">Answer with melodious shout</p><p class="line">And put the ugly ghosts to rout--</p><p class="line">Even while the dead lads lay</p><p class="line">In their dreadful disarray,</p><p class="line">Even while their women stood</p><p class="line">Frozen in their motherhood.</p><p class="line">I heard the voice of Liberty--</p><p class="line">That was and is and is to be</p><p class="line">From first to finish of our span</p><p class="line">Son of God and Son of Man--</p><p class="line">Cry that splendid word of Death</p><p class="line">(That we say beneath our breath)</p><p class="line">In its whole divine intent;</p><p class="line">And I knew the joy it meant,</p><p class="line">Shared the joy that only they</p><p class="line">Partake who give themselves away</p><p class="line">To the freedom of the world.</p><p class="line">I saw the mystic flag unfurled</p><p class="line">Of ever-new defiance, flung</p><p class="line">To the old world by the young:</p><p class="line">Saw that flag--whose sunrise-red</p><p class="line">Dissipates despair and dread--</p><p class="line">Repay all the dead are giving</p><p class="line">With its joy of mightier living:</p><p class="line">For I heard the dying cry,</p><p class="line">"Freedom! You shall never die !"</p><p class="line">Saw their dying as the birth</p><p class="line">Of that overmastering mirth</p><p class="line">At whose face the devils quail</p><p class="line">For their terrors naught avail.</p></div><h1 align="center" class="head">2</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I saw soldiers going gay</p><p class="line">Over the hills and far away:</p><p class="line">And I followed through the fern</p><p class="line">Sighing, "They will not return!</p><p class="line">To the board and to the bed</p><p class="line">Grief and Hate will come instead.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The November sun was pale,</p><p class="line">But the tall defiant trees</p><p class="line">Shook their tops against the gale,</p><p class="line">Spurning such impieties:</p><p class="line">And within my soul I knew</p><p class="line">My fear and sadness were untrue</p><p class="line">To something in myself that would</p><p class="line">Give my body to make good</p><p class="line">My spirit's boasting: fain would give</p><p class="line">All that makes me glad to live</p><p class="line">For a weapon or a shield</p><p class="line">In Freedom's hand, that He may yield</p><p class="line">No inch to Tyranny, or 'bate</p><p class="line">Any joy of His for Fate.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I believed that I would dare</p><p class="line">Naked to confront Despair,</p><p class="line">Having given all I might:</p><p class="line">Would go dwell in the dark night,</p><p class="line">Of my light bereft: defy</p><p class="line">Loneliness, if only I</p><p class="line">Could feel I had held nothing back</p><p class="line">From Freedom in His hour of lack.</p><p class="line">Evermore I would rejoice</p><p class="line">That I had recognised the Voice</p><p class="line">Divine, and against any odds</p><p class="line">Held to Him against the gods</p><p class="line">And princes of this world,</p><p class="line">Who have no stomach for the high</p><p class="line">Mirth of His flag unfurled</p><p class="line">Upon the sky.</p></div><h1 align="center" class="head">3</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">When myself I utterly</p><p class="line">Give to Freedom, I can be</p><p class="line">The hateless weapon in His hand--</p><p class="line">Let Him bid me, let me hear</p><p class="line">The authentic voice within my ear</p><p class="line">That I know for His command.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I have seen the eyes of Him</p><p class="line">Who is Freedom: they are dim</p><p class="line">With no doubting: naught of weakness</p><p class="line">Dulls their gaze of piercing meekness;</p><p class="line">It is brighter than the sun</p><p class="line">That I cannot look upon.</p><p class="line">I have felt His living breath</p><p class="line">Challenge in me doubt and death:</p><p class="line">Who am I that I should bear</p><p class="line">Only to speak gentle and fair?</p><p class="line">I must be the battle-cry</p><p class="line">Of Freedom, or become a lie</p><p class="line">On His lips, when they would speak</p><p class="line">Mortal Truth, though they be meek.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">There is not, nor ever shall</p><p class="line">Be any peace on Earth till all</p><p class="line">Life's great truth be spoken out:</p><p class="line">Never while we fear to flout</p><p class="line">Half-truth; while we dare not be</p><p class="line">Hated of complacency:</p><p class="line">Never till we give our whole</p><p class="line">Being--body, mind, and soul--</p><p class="line">To Freedom, and stand forth among</p><p class="line">Them who battle against the strong</p><p class="line">Proud powers that put Him in the wrong.</p></div></body></html> · Great War