<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">Speeding</h1><h1 align="center" class="head"><em>To Ivo Alan Charteris, October 17th, 1915</em></h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Requiescat</span> is not my bidding,</p><p class="line">That is the weary man's right speeding;</p><p class="line">You, O Child, full of life and laughter,</p><p class="line">Joy to you now and long days hereafter!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Light of foot, ever running and leaping,</p><p class="line">Who would tether your feet to sleeping?</p><p class="line">Who would stretch you on a sad bed?</p><p class="line">A flying light was your golden head.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Many a game and a goal be given</p><p class="line">To you in the playing-fields of Heaven;</p><p class="line">Be as you were, a light shape of joy,</p><p class="line">Glad in the strength and the grace of a boy.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Dear and young, here's the prayer I pray for you;</p><p class="line">Heaven be full of new life and play for you!</p><p class="line">Swift as an arrow, light as a swallow,</p><p class="line">So may we find you, boy, when we follow.</p></div></body></html> · Great War