<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Anxious Dead</h1><p class="byline"> LIEUT. COL. JOHN MCCRAE <br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/><span class="smallcaps">IN The London Spectator</span></p><div class="stanza"><p class="line">O GUNS, fall silent till the dead men hear</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Above their heads the legions pressing on!</p><p class="line">(These fought their fight in time of bitter fear</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And died not knowing how the day had gone.)</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">O flashing muzzles, pause and let them see</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The coming dawn that streaks the sky afar</p><p class="line">Then let your mighty chorus witness be</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">To them, and Csar, that we still make war.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Tell them, O guns, that we have heard their call</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">That we have sworn and will not turn aside;</p><p class="line">That we will onward till we win or fall;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">That we will keep the faith for which they died.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Bid them be patient, and some day, anon,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">They shall feel earth enwrapt in silence deep--</p><p class="line">Shall greet in wonderment the quiet dawn,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And in content may turn them to their sleep. </p></div></body></html> · Great War