<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">Pershing at the Tomb of Lafayette</h1><p class="byline"> AMELIA JOSEPHINE BURR </p><p>From Amelia Josephine Burr's book of poems, "The Silver Trumpet." Published and copyright, 1918, by George H. Doran Company, New York. Special permission to reproduce in this book.</p><div class="stanza"><p class="line">THEY knew they were fighting our war. As the months grew to years</p><p class="line">Their men and their women had watched through their blood and their tears</p><p class="line">For a sign that we knew, we who could not have come to be free</p><p class="line">Without France, long ago. And at last from the threatening sea</p><p class="line">The stars of our strength on the eyes of their weariness rose</p><p class="line">And he stood among them, the sorrow-strong hero we chose</p><p class="line">To carry our flag to the tomb of that Frenchman whose name</p><p class="line">A man of our country could once more pronounce without shame.</p><p class="line">What crown of rich words would he set for all time on this day?</p><p class="line">The past and the future were listening what he would say--</p><p class="line">Only this, from the white--flaming heart of a passion austere,</p><p class="line">Only this--ah, but France understood "Lafayette, we are here." </p></div></body></html> · Great War