<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Road to France</h1><p class="byline"> DANIEL M. HENDERSON <br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/>Permission to reproduce in this book</p><p class="inline-note" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">The 1917 prize of the National Arts Club of New York was awarded to Mr. Henderson's poem. It was chosen out of more than four thousand that were submitted.</p><div class="stanza"><p class="line">THANK God, our liberating lance</p><p class="line">Goes flaming on the way to France! </p><p class="line">To France--the trail the Gurkhas found; </p><p class="line">To France--old England's rallying--ground! </p><p class="line">To France--the path the Russians strode!</p><p class="line">To France--the Anzacs' glory road!</p><p class="line">To France--where our Lost Legion ran </p><p class="line">To fight and die for God and man!</p><p class="line">To France--with every race and breed </p><p class="line">That hates Oppression's brutal creed!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">All, France, how could our hearts forget </p><p class="line">The path by which came Lafayette? </p><p class="line">How could the haze of doubt hang low </p><p class="line">Upon the road of Rochambeau?</p><p class="line">How was it that we missed the way</p><p class="line">Brave Joffre leads us along today? </p><p class="line">At last, thank God! At last, we see </p><p class="line">There is no tribal Liberty! </p><p class="line">No beacon lighting just our shores, </p><p class="line">No Freedom guarding but our doors. </p><p class="line">The flame she kindled for our sires </p><p class="line">Burns now in Europe's battle--fires. </p><p class="line">The soul that led our fathers west </p><p class="line">Turns back to free the world's opprest.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Allies, you have not called in vain; </p><p class="line">We share your conflict and your pain. </p><p class="line">"Old Glory," through new stains and rents,</p><p class="line">Partakes of Freedom's sacraments.</p><p class="line">Into that hell his will creates </p><p class="line">We drive the foe--his lusts, his hates.</p><p class="line"> Last come, we will he last to stay, </p><p class="line">Till Right has had her crowning day. </p><p class="line">Replenish, comrades, from our veins </p><p class="line">The blood the sword of despot drains, </p><p class="line">And make our eager sacrifice </p><p class="line">Part of the freely rendered price </p><p class="line">You pay to lift humanity</p><p class="line">You pay to make our brothers free. </p><p class="line">See, with what proud hearts we advance</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">To France! </p></div></body></html> · Great War