<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Battle-Line</h1><p class="byline"> J. B. DOLLARD <br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/><span class="smallcaps">IN The Globe, Toronto</span><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><div class="stanza"><p class="line">ATHWART that land of bloss'ming vine </p><p class="line">Stretches the awful battle-line; </p><p class="line">A lark hangs singing in the sky, </p><p class="line">With sullen shrapnel bursting nigh! </p><p class="line">Along the poplar-bordered road </p><p class="line">The peasant trudges with his load, </p><p class="line">While horsemen and artillery </p><p class="line">Rush to red fields that are to be! </p><p class="line">The plains for tillage furrowed well </p><p class="line">Are now replowed with shot and shell! </p><p class="line">The ditches, swollen by the rain, </p><p class="line">Show bloated faces of the slain. </p><p class="line">The hedge-rows sweet with leaf and flower </p><p class="line">Now mask the cannon's murderous power!</p><p class="line">Small birds by household cares opprest </p><p class="line">Beg truce and time to build their nest. </p><p class="line">The sun sinks down--oh, blest release! </p><p class="line">And the spent world cries out for peace, </p><p class="line">In vain! In vain! Tho' mild stars shine, </p><p class="line">War wakes the thundering battle-line. </p></div></body></html> · Great War