<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">A Dirge </h1><p class="byline">VICTOR PEROWNE<br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/><span class="smallcaps">IN The London Times</span></p><div class="stanza"><p class="line">THOUGH art no longer here,</p><p class="line">No longer shall we see thy face. </p><p class="line">But, in that other place, </p><p class="line">Where may be heard </p><p class="line">The roar of the world rushing down the wantways of the stars; </p><p class="line">And the silver bars </p><p class="line">Of heaven's gate </p><p class="line">Shine soft and clear: </p><p class="line">Thou mayest wait.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">No longer shall we see </p><p class="line">Thee walking in the crowded streets, </p><p class="line">But where the ocean of the Future beats </p><p class="line">Against the flood--gates of the Present, swirling to this earth,</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Another birth </p><p class="line">Thou mayest have;</p><p class="line"> Another Arcady </p><p class="line">May thee receive. </p><p class="line">Not here thou dost remain</p><p class="line">Thou art gone far away,</p><p class="line">Where, at the portals of the day, </p><p class="line">The hours ever dance in ring, a silvern--footed throng,</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">While time looks on, </p><p class="line">And seraphs stand </p><p class="line">Choiring an endless strain </p><p class="line">On either hand.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Thou canst return no more; </p><p class="line">Not as the happy time of spring </p><p class="line">Comes after winter burgeoning </p><p class="line">On wood and vo1d in folds of living green, for thou art dead.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Our tears we shed </p><p class="line">In vain, for thou </p><p class="line">Dost pace another shore, </p><p class="line">Untroubled now. </p></div></body></html> · Great War