<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Silver Birch.</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"> O SILVER one, O silver one,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Above the valley of the Bane: </p><p class="line">O stem with snow-water agleam, </p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And glistening limbs, and trails of pearl.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The sun has sent a slanting kiss:</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Red fire and gold, his arrows burn: </p><p class="line">Now that he aims a shaft at thee, </p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Red fire and gold to silver turn!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">When I am spent with the ways of men.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">I'll wash my hands in melting snow:</p><p class="line">And live with thee among the oaks,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And watch the river swirl below.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">But I must ever be travelling </p><p class="line">From sea to sea, from shoal to shoal: </p><p class="line">Farewell ! O still and beautiful, </p><p class="line">I would thy valley were my goal!</p></div></body></html> · Great War