<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">To the Others</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">This</span> was the gleam then that lured from far</p><p class="line">Your son and my son to the Holy War:</p><p class="line">Your son and my son for the accolade</p><p class="line">With the banner of Christ over them, in steel arrayed.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">All quiet roads of life ran on to this</p><p class="line">When they were little for their mother's kiss;</p><p class="line">Little feet hastening, so soft, unworn,</p><p class="line">To the vows and the vigil and the road of thorn.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Your son and my son, the downy things,</p><p class="line">Sheltered in mother's breast, by mother's wings,</p><p class="line">Should they be broken in the Lord's wars -- Peace!</p><p class="line">He who has given them are they not His?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Dreams of knight's armour and the battle shout,</p><p class="line">Fighting and falling at the last redoubt;</p><p class="line">Dreams of long dying on the field of slain:</p><p class="line">This was the dream that lured, nor lured in vain.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">These were the Voices they heard from far,</p><p class="line">Bugles and trumpets of the Holy War;</p><p class="line">Your son and my son have heard the call,</p><p class="line">Your son and my son have stormed the wall.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Your son and my son, clean as new swords,</p><p class="line">Your man and my man and now the Lord's!</p><p class="line">Your son and my son for the Great Crusade,</p><p class="line">With the banner of Christ over them -- our knights, new-made.</p></div></body></html> · Great War