<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">They Who Return</h1><h1 align="center" class="head"><em>To Mrs. Weigall</em></h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Into</span> the stricken house who steals on quiet feet</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And sudden brings the sunshine it used to wear?</p><p class="line">Whose is the tender whisper that turns the bitter sweet?</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Whose kiss is on your forehead, whose breath in your hair?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Who sits down beside you in the firelight glow?</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Who leans on your shoulder like the boy of old?</p><p class="line">Whose is the arm about you that you used to know,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Drawing the sting from your wound, your heart from cold?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Like the rustle of dead leaves in the autumn gloam</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Running like little feet on a wind-swept road,</p><p class="line">They are coming home so sweetly all the roads of home,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Very flesh of your flesh who belong to God.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The horse in the stable whinnies by the door,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The dog of a sudden is wild with delight.</p><p class="line">Who is this he welcomes, long waited for?</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Who smiles in the shadow, so dear, so bright?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Mercy of God, they are given, not taken away!</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">There's a face in the doorway, a foot on the floor.</p><p class="line">They sit down beside us in the shadows grey,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Lay their heads on our breasts as oft before.</p></div></body></html> · Great War