<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">Oxford's Promise</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">SHE show'd me where the wakeful gardens grow</p><p class="line">Bright with the opening blossom of the Spring,</p><p class="line">The fairy births that ever burgeon--lo!</p><p class="line">Out of the teeming shadowland of thought:</p><p class="line">Such new delight, new hope, new life they bring</p><p class="line">(Heart cannot feel nor these dull numbers tell)</p><p class="line">As all rare poets down the years have sought,</p><p class="line">--Gardens of light and Spring perpetual.</p><p class="line">She told me how the Traveller in the way</p><p class="line">Borrows fair wings from all the flowery pride</p><p class="line">Empurpling the hedge-row at his side:</p><p class="line">And how, sped onward by each glad delay--</p><p class="line">By wayward Fancy, sudden to inspire,</p><p class="line">Or Peril calling Valour to the fray,</p><p class="line">Or human Love yet hot with Heav'nly fire--</p><p class="line">He gains the city gate--past foe and friend--</p><p class="line">With full spoil laden at the journey's end.</p></div></body></html> · Great War