<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Wild Geese</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Wild</span> geese fly overhead</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">In the wild Autumn weather.</p><p class="line">Souls of the newly-dead</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Crying and flying together.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Home from the last great fight,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The souls of the Irish farin'</p><p class="line">With a wild heart in the night,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">A grey eye turned to Erin.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">High and high in the sky,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">From the red fields of slaughter</p><p class="line">Ever they fly and cry</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">For the brown bog, the grey water.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Wild geese in the wild even,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Steady and strong their flight,</p><p class="line">Their beds are made in Heaven,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">All of the down white.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">They have forgone that bliss</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Till they have seen once more</p><p class="line">The little land of peace,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Green and bright as of yore.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">High o'er the sheep and cattle,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The bogs and the mountains lone,</p><p class="line">The souls new-home from the battle</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Cry their love and are flown.</p></div></body></html> · Great War