<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Young Soldier</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Since</span> you were so young, child, I shall</p><p class="line">Not fear your noon or even-fall,</p><p class="line">Nor dread you are taken unawares,</p><p class="line">Nor weary Heaven with many prayers.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I shall not wake at night afraid</p><p class="line">Of where your darling head is laid,</p><p class="line">Nor say: "He finds the wind too rough,</p><p class="line">Dear God!" for now the wind's left off.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I shall have ease though lightnings leap,</p><p class="line">Nor hear the thunder in my sleep,</p><p class="line">Nor dread the crying of the seas,</p><p class="line">Nor any mountain precipice.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">God pity her who lies awake</p><p class="line">Unquiet for some darling sake!</p><p class="line">Soft sleeps my little son to-night,</p><p class="line">Where many stars make candlelight!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">His sword is laid beside his knees;</p><p class="line">God knows my little son hath ease --</p><p class="line">And I, his mother, may go sleep</p><p class="line">And pray for them who wake and weep.</p></div></body></html> · Great War