<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">Your Lad, and My Lad</h1><p class="byline"> RANDALL PARRISH <br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/><span class="smallcaps">IN The Chicago Tribune</span></p><div class="stanza"><p class="line">DOWN toward the deep-blue water, marching to throb of drum,</p><p class="line">From city street and country lane the lines of khaki come; </p><p class="line">The rumbling guns, the sturdy tread, are full of grim appeal,</p><p class="line">While rays of western sunshine flash back from burnished steel.</p><p class="line">With eager eyes and cheeks aflame the serried ranks advance;</p><p class="line">And your dear lad, and my dear lad, are on their way to France.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">A sob clings choking in the throat, as file on file sweep by, </p><p class="line">Between those cheering multitudes, to where the great ships lie;</p><p class="line">The batteries halt, the columns wheel, to clear-toned bugle-call.</p><p class="line">With shoulders squared and faces front they stand a khaki wall.</p><p class="line">Tears shine on every watcher's cheek, love speaks in every glance;</p><p class="line">For your dear lad, and my dear lad, are on their way to France.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Before them, through a mist of years, in soldier buff or blue,</p><p class="line">Brave comrades from a thousand fields watch now in proud review;</p><p class="line">The same old Flag, the same old Faith,--the Freedom of the World--</p><p class="line">Spells Duty in those flapping folds above long ranks unfurled.</p><p class="line">Strong are the hearts which bear along Democracy's advance,</p><p class="line">As your dear lad, and my dear lad, go on their way to France.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The word rings out; a million feet tramp forward on the road,</p><p class="line">Along that path of sacrifice o'er which their fathers strode.</p><p class="line">With eager eyes and cheeks aflame, with cheers on smiling lips,</p><p class="line">These fighting men of '17 move onward to their ships.</p><p class="line">Nor even love may hold them back, nor halt that stern advance,</p><p class="line">As your dear lad, and my dear lad, go on their way to France. </p></div></body></html> · Great War