<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">Caldra<br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/> (<em>On a Tyrone hillside</em>)</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">The</span> little valley folded lies</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%"> Amid the hills a-dream,</p><p class="line">The silence, soft as lullabies,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Hushes the wind, the stream.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Here where no dreadful thing affrights,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%"> No lurking shadows creep,</p><p class="line">Only the short sweet grass invites</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The cropping kine and sheep,</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The pagan giant takes his rest</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Who died when this was new.</p><p class="line">His huge slab broken o'er his breast</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Has let the daisies through.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And round about and all around</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The unchristened babies lie.</p><p class="line">Only the mother knows the mound</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And the name to call it by.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">When the sad world is all in shade</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">They bring the babies here,</p><p class="line">The little weary ones unstayed</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">By any Angel dear.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The mother lays her lamb away</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Where soft South winds will blow</p><p class="line">And where the sweet sun shines all day</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">On small graves in a row.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The mother smooths the clayey bed,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And sets the piteous stone</p><p class="line">Where some most precious drowsy-head</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Sleeps on alone, alone.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">But when the Winter nights are long</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And the hearth fires are bright</p><p class="line">And babes sleep sweetly and grow strong</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Lapped up in fleeces white,</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And when the mother's arms let go</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The happy babe full-fed,</p><p class="line">These hapless ones in frost and snow</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Must go uncomforted.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">But the old giant in the mirk</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">He hears the cry and call:</p><p class="line">Come hither, O children from the dark,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">My arms have room for all.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">No little babe need go afeard</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Since he is strong and kind,</p><p class="line">For all his armour and his beard,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">His great voice on the wind.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The unchristened children rustle and stir,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Their hearts are not dismayed,</p><p class="line">God sends as once St. Christopher</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">His pagan to their aid.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Now like a flock of frightened birds</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The little ghosts will fly.</p><p class="line">He hath mothered them with tender words</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And stilled their lonely cry.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The pagan giant now grown mild,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">His notched sword by his arm,</p><p class="line">Draws close to him the hapless child</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">That never else was warm.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">As a hen gathereth her brood </p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">He keeps from eve till morn </p><p class="line">The little orphaned ones of God</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">That died ere they were born.</p></div></body></html> · Great War