<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Long Vacation</h1><h1 align="center" class="head"><em>To Amy Wainwright</em></h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">This</span> is the time the boys come home from school,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Filling the house with gay and happy noise,</p><p class="line">Never at rest from morn till evening cool --</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">All the roads of the world bring home the boys.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">This is the time -- but still they are not come;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The mothers stand in the doorway listening long;</p><p class="line">Long, long they shall wait ere the boys come home.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Where do they tarry, the dear, the light-heart throng?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Their feet are heavy as lead and deep their rest.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The mothers watch the road till set of sun;</p><p class="line">But nevermore the birds fly back to the nest.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%"><em>The roads of the world run Heavenward every one.</em></p></div></body></html> · Great War